NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced yesterday to four years and nine months in prison for aggravated identity theft, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and defrauding a COVID relief program.
According to court documents, in May 2021, Marquell Lamont Moon, 31, who is a member of the Crips gang, fired approximately 27 rounds at a victim while the victim’s 3-year-old child was with him. At least one of the rounds struck the victim’s left hand. Law enforcement in Chesapeake later pursued Moon, who attempted to flee in a vehicle at high speed but crashed into a residence, fled the vehicle, and discarded a black backpack and other objects as he ran. Law enforcement recovered $8,275.66 and a stolen .45 semiautomatic handgun from Moon’s vehicle.
Moon was previously convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, reckless driving, resisting arrest, and forging credit cards. As a previously convicted felon, Moon cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Law enforcement also recovered evidence that Moon was engaged in a financial fraud scheme. Among the items recovered from Moon’s vehicle and backpack were credit and bank cards, a card embossing machine, a notebook detailing the fraudulent scheme, and correspondence with the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). A total of 34 cards were either in another person’s name or there was no name associated with the card. There were also 28 blank debit/credit cards with no identifying information on the magnetic strip.
Moon fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits that had been expanded and initiated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moon unlawfully obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of 10 individuals and used that information to fraudulently apply to VEC for unemployment insurance benefits totaling $112,633. The notebook detailed the steps for committing fraudulent requests and documenting the PII of the individuals whose identities Moon used to apply for the funds. Federal agents across several states located and interviewed the PII victims and determined that they did not know Moon and had not filed for unemployment insurance in Virginia. One victim was deceased. Another victim was too apprehensive to even comply with law enforcement.
In addition to applying for benefits in the victims’ names, Moon used VEC’s online portal to enter weekly re-certifications attesting that the applicants were ready and willing to work during the week and actively seeking employment. One of the identity theft victims could not have been willing to work during the week and actively seeking employment because he was deceased. Another victim was not willing to work during the week and actively seeking employment because he was retired.
Moon is currently incarcerated for malicious wounding.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton D. LaForge and Amanda L. Cheney prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-35.
