JACKSON, Miss. — State Auditor Shad White announced Monday that special agents from his office have arrested Chadwick Stubbs, Blair Stubbs, and Shinka Stubbs in connection with a scheme to defraud unemployment benefits. The arrests are part of Operation Payback, a detailed investigation into pandemic-related unemployment fraud.
The three individuals allegedly submitted fraudulent claims to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security using the identities of 13 inmates, some of whom were incarcerated with Chadwick and Blair Stubbs at the time. White said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mississippi distributed more than half a billion dollars in improper unemployment payments.
White emphasized the state’s commitment to holding criminals accountable, adding that if convicted, the suspects could face up to $36,000 in fines and 45 years in prison. All those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The auditor’s office encourages the public to report suspected fraud via its website or by calling 1-800-321-1275 during business hours.
Jon R Myers is the executive editor of Alcorn County News and the founder of the Mississippi News Group, which he started in 2013 to cover communities across North Mississippi. He also founded the Mississippi Sports Group in 2006, which grew from a single community publication into a statewide network covering high school and college athletics. He reports on local government, public safety, schools and community life in Corinth and Alcorn County, working from public meetings, agency records and interviews with the people involved. Contact him at editor@alcornnewsms.com with news tips or corrections. For a correction, include the article link and supporting source material.
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