Mississippi Auditor’s Office Arrests Four in Fraud Scheme Using Inmate Identities

Jackson, Miss. — The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor announced the arrest of four people accused of submitting fraudulent unemployment claims using stolen identities of inmates. The arrests are part of Operation Payback, an effort to recover funds lost to pandemic-related unemployment fraud, according to State Auditor Shad White.

Special agents arrested Felisa Suggs, Nathanial Coleman, P’Trance Fields, and Kavisia Blaylock. Authorities allege the suspects used information stolen from inmates in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections to file false claims with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

Investigators say Coleman and Fields obtained inmate identities from close proximity while incarcerated and used that information to submit claims. Suggs and Blaylock allegedly laundered the proceeds through CashApp and bank accounts. Each suspect faces up to $35,000 in fines and 40 years in prison if convicted, authorities said.

All individuals arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The auditor’s office encourages the public to report suspected fraud by clicking the red button on its website or calling 1-800-321-1275 during business hours.

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