Stoneham Man Admits To Role In Pandemic-Unemployment Scheme

STONEHAM, MA — A 33-year-old Stoneham man admitted to his role in a yearlong scheme that netted more than a quarter-million dollars in pandemic-related unemployment money using stolen personal information, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Daniel Maleus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

The Department of Justice said Maleus conspired with others to file fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims using stolen personal information and email accounts set up in the names of their victims.

Maleus and the others got more than $250,000 in claims submitted between April 2020 and April 2021.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 15.