ABINGDON, VA. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Virginia, Western), published as received.
ABINGDON, Va. – A Washington County, Virginia man, who conspired with others to file false claims for pandemic unemployment benefits authorized by the CARES Act, pled guilty today. The CARES Act is a federal law, enacted in March of 2020, that was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richard David Michael Bland, 62, pled guilty today to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States and commit an offense against the United States by filing fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits as authorized by federal law.
According to court documents, from July 2020 through May 2021 Bland, along with co-conspirators Martha Sue Buffy Davis and Robert Walter Neely, and others, conspired to file false and fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits. To perpetuate the scheme, Bland, along with other members of the conspiracy, invented non-existent businesses for the purpose of listing them on their applications for benefits with the Virginia Employment Commission. Bland worked with Davis to file an application claiming to be employed at “Bland’s Odd’s and Ends,” a business law enforcement determined did not exist. Bland subsequently recertified, or conspired to have recertified, his employment at the nonexistent business more than 75 times.
Bland, along with co-defendants Davis, Neely, and Jessie Miller, are scheduled for sentencing in December 2026 and January 2027.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Labor, and the Virginia Employment Commission investigated the case.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Virginia Office of the Attorney General Senior Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
