A 37-year-old Albany woman has pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges, including mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, firearm possession, and drug distribution, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Niesha Goodwin admitted to fraudulently obtaining over $150,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits by using stolen personal information between July 2020 and March 2021. She also acknowledged possessing a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and crack cocaine with the intent to distribute in November 2022.
Goodwin, who has a prior conviction for robbery, was prohibited from possessing a firearm. As part of her plea agreement, she will forfeit the pistol and abandon the seven rounds of ammunition found with it. She has also agreed to pay $151,783 in restitution to the New York State Department of Labor.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman announced the plea alongside officials from the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Albany Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Goodwin faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison and could be sentenced to a fine of up to $1.75 million and at least three years of supervised release. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 12 before U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck, Joseph S. Hartunian, and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.
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