JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – State Auditor Shad White announced his office has secured their first indictment associated with Operation Payback.

“My office found that during COVID, Mississippi handed out over half a billion dollars in illegal unemployment compensation payments,” said White.

On May 15, White said Kenjarell Thomas was served with a 59 count indictment, which includes 19 counts of identity theft, 20 counts of fraudulent representation to defraud the government, and 20 counts of wire fraud.

According to the State Auditor, Thomas was in prison while allegedly applying for unemployment benefits using multiple other prisoners personal information and using his mother’s address to receive the payments.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office online at any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during normal business hours.