(The Center Square) – A Cordele man faces a maximum 20-year prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of mail fraud tied to a unemployment scheme during the era of COVID-19.

Malcolm Jeffrey conspired with others to file more than 7,000 fraudulent unemployment claims totalling than $16 million, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“The defendant and his coconspirators orchestrated a scheme where they used stolen identities to submit fraudulent unemployment claims in order to steal millions of dollars of funds intended for the benefit of unemployed Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

The money was funneled through Jeffrey's business, Down N Dirty Transportation, LLC, the department said. The clai

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