A large international fraud scheme has resulted in nearly $59 million in stolen public benefits, with Florida playing a key role in the crime. The scheme, which involved a network of fake businesses, has led to one person pleading guilty, while two others still face charges. The stolen funds were illegally funneled out of the U.S. and sent to China.
Bruce Jin, a 60-year-old man from California, admitted to conspiracy charges related to wire fraud and money laundering. Jin was part of a network that exploited the unemployment insurance program, which was designed to help American workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scheme targeted several states, including Florida, using fake claims made under stolen identities. These claims were made to steal benefits that were intended for people who lost jobs due to the pandemic.
According to the investigation, Jin worked with two other co-defendants—71-year-old Brian Cleland and 59-year-old Carlos Grijalva. The three men set up fake businesses that appeared to sell COVID-19 protective equipment. These fake businesses were just a cover to carry out their illegal activities. They used these fake companies to steal money from unemployment programs, including funds from Economic Impact Payments, also known as stimulus checks.
The fraud didn’t just stop at stealing the money; the stolen funds were then sent overseas. The defendants transferred over $35 million to a bank account in China. This money was laundered through a number of companies, including Jin’s businesses, Ample International and Jin Commerce.
Court filings show that Jin’s companies were directly responsible for over $12 million of the stolen money. In total, more than $45 million was stolen and transferred through this criminal network, moving money from the U.S. to China.
This case is part of ongoing efforts to fight fraud in federal relief programs, particularly those designed to help people who were struggling during the pandemic. The government is working to prevent taxpayer money from being stolen by criminal groups like the one led by Jin and his co-defendants.
Jin has been in custody since his arrest in August 2023. Cleland and Grijalva have been released pending trial. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges and are scheduled for trial in May 2025.
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