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Man arrested in identify theft scheme targeting Florida teachers

Posted at 3:31 AM, Feb 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-22 05:01:33-05

MIAMI (WTXL) - A man accused of stealing the identities of teachers statewide and using their information to collect unemployment benefits has been arrested.

Ralph Alonso Everett Jr. of Miami was arrested for organized scheme to defraud, reemployment assistance fraud and criminal use of personal identification, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said in a news release.

A second man, Isaiah Lewis also of Miami, remains at large. Everett and Lewis attempted to defraud the state of more than $200,000 in fraudulent claims. Losses to the state exceed $50,000.

The investigation identified more than 100 employees associated with 65 different school board districts that had their identities illegally used to submit fraudulent reemployment assistance claims from February through December 2016.

Everett was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on an $80,000 bond.

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case.