KC Reporter

A Houston woman has been sentenced in federal court for her involvement in a fraudulent scheme that netted over $800,000 in unemployment benefits. Prayshana Washington, 37, received a sentence of three years and one month in federal prison without parole from U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips. Additionally, she was ordered to pay restitution totaling $836,369 to the Missouri Division of Employment Security and the California Employment Development Department.

Washington pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024, to one count of theft of government property. She admitted to filing false claims under her name and others' names to obtain unemployment benefits through Missouri's system, including those from the CARES Act.

The fraudulent activity involved 38 successful claims using personal information from individuals who were not eligible for these benefits. The scheme spanned more than a year and involved repeated false statements made by Washington to the Missouri Department of Employment Services.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General and the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations & Labor Racketeering Fraud.