Four people have been arrested in Mississippi after investigators say stolen inmate identities were used to obtain unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Auditor Shad White announced the Aug. 31 arrests of Felisa Suggs, Nathanial Coleman, P’Trance Fields and Kavisia Blaylock as part of the state’s Operation Payback investigation.
Authorities say four unemployment claims were submitted using the identities of people who were in the full-time custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Coleman and Fields allegedly obtained inmates’ identifying information while they themselves were incarcerated, while Blaylock and Suggs are accused of helping move the resulting money through Cash App and bank accounts.
The Mississippi State Auditor’s Office did not disclose the loss amount in its announcement, but WLOX reported that the four claims accounted for roughly $58,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits between May and October 2020.
Investigators Found Four Claims Filed in Inmates’ Names
Special agents with the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor discovered four claims submitted to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security using the names of people incarcerated in the state prison system.
Investigators allege Coleman and Fields had close proximity to the inmates while incarcerated and obtained their identities. That information was then allegedly used to submit unemployment claims in the inmates’ names. Authorities have not identified the inmates or publicly explained exactly how their personal information was obtained.
Investigators accuse Blaylock and Suggs of becoming involved after the unemployment money was obtained. The auditor’s office says the two women used various Cash App and bank accounts to launder the fraudulently obtained funds.
Operation Payback Has Previously Found Claims Filed With Other Inmates’ Identities
The case is part of Operation Payback, an initiative the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office launched to identify and recover unemployment money improperly paid during the COVID-19 pandemic. The office has used data analysis to examine millions of unemployment payments and identify potentially connected suspicious claims.
The latest case is not the first time investigators say people used inmates’ identities. In April, the auditor’s office announced the arrests of Chadwick Stubbs, Blair Stubbs and Shinka Stubbs in a separate Operation Payback case involving claims allegedly filed using the identities of 13 inmates.
Another Operation Payback defendant, Kenjarell Thomas, pleaded guilty to identity theft, fraud and wire fraud after authorities said he used other prisoners’ information to apply for unemployment benefits while incarcerated. He was sentenced in February 2026 to 15 years and ordered to pay $37,470.53 in restitution.
Each Defendant Could Face Up to 40 Years if Convicted
The Mississippi State Auditor’s Office says Suggs, Coleman, Fields and Blaylock each face maximum potential penalties of 40 years in prison and $35,000 in fines. Those figures represent the maximum possible exposure identified by the agency. All four have been arrested but not convicted. The allegations against them will have to be proven through the court process.
An Unexpected Unemployment Claim Can Be a Sign of Identity Theft
The U.S. Department of Labor says warning signs can include receiving an unemployment notice or debit card without applying for benefits, an employer receiving a claim in an employee’s name while that person is still working, or receiving a Form 1099-G reporting unemployment compensation that the person never collected.
In Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security specifically defines unemployment identity theft as someone filing for benefits using another person’s Social Security number or identifying information.
Anyone who discovers a fraudulent Mississippi unemployment claim should report it to MDES as quickly as possible. The agency accepts reports at safe@mdes.ms.gov and 601-493-9427 and may require supporting identity-theft documentation, including a law enforcement report and government-issued identification.
The Department of Labor also recommends reviewing credit reports and considering a credit freeze when stolen personal information may have been used more broadly. Identity theft involving unfamiliar credit accounts or inquiries can be reported through IdentityTheft.gov. Information about suspected theft of Mississippi unemployment funds can also be reported directly to the State Auditor’s Office at 1-800-321-1275.