Anaheim tax preparer sentenced for a COVID-19 scam involving prisoners

Sandra Pineda, 37, an Anaheim tax preparer, was sentenced on Friday to six years in prison for a COVID- 19 pandemic unemployment insurance scam that involved four state prisoners.

Pineda pleaded guilty, on March 15, to 72 felony charges including perjury, false statements, conspiracy and money laundering. Pineda also admitted sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime exceeding $500,000.

Pineda filed bogus unemployment claims for Leonel Hernandez, 35, a murderer who has been in Kern Valley state prison since February 2010. She also helped to file fake unemployment claims for other prisoners including Greg Garcia, 31, Ryan Vargas, 38, and Hector Jimenez, 33.

Pineda used personal identifying information to file the false unemployment claims and then used debit cards to withdraw the money.

Ironically now Pineda will find out firsthand what it is like to be a prisoner.