LOS ANGELES – A South Los Angeles woman was sentenced Thursday to four years and seven months behind bars for fraudulently obtaining more than $1.3 million dollars in COVID-19 pandemic-related jobless benefits by falsely claiming that she was unemployed when, in fact, she was employed full-time as a contractor at a state agency.

Lavinnciea Rose Nelson, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong, who also ordered her to pay $1.36 million in restitution, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Nelson pleaded guilty in December in Los Angeles federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Nelson impersonated others to apply online for government benefits that she used for herself. She also used the personal identifying information provided by her co-con

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