Schenectady man found guilty in unemployment fraud case

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- The Schenectady County District Attorney's Office announced a Schenectady man was found guilty in a COVID-19 unemployment fraud scheme. On Tuesday, Frederick Hollingshed, 58, was convicted of multiple charges by a Schenectady County jury.

According to county officials, Hollingshed was found guilty of pretending to be someone else to apply for and obtain unemployment insurance benefits in November 2020, while also receiving benefits under his own name. The DA's office said he fraudulently obtained $16,196 under the fake identity.

Investigators said the defendant reportedly logged into both his claim and the identity theft victim's claim using the same computer, as well as called to certify both claims from the same phone number, minutes and seconds a part of each other. The trail revealed the benefits were paid out through KeyBank debit cards.

At trial, KeyBank records were presented to the jury, which included recorded phone calls from Hollingshed on his personal claim and the victim's claim. Officials said his federal probation officer identified his voice on both calls.

"Mr. Hollingshed exploited a national crisis to enrich himself at the expense of New
Yorkers in need," said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. "This case is a prime
example of how interagency coordination and digital forensic investigation can expose even the
most sophisticated fraud."

He was found guilty of the following offenses:

• Grand Larceny in the Third Degree
• Two counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree

"I am proud of the work of our Financial Crimes Unit, in this case represented by Assistant District Attorney Leah Nelson, who proved to a jury that Mr. Hollingshed stole unemployment insurance benefits by utilizing the name of someone who was the victim of identity theft," District Attorney Carney stated. "This kind of elaborate theft needs to be exposed and sanctioned so that these programs continue to be solvent to assist those in actual need."

Sentencing is scheduled for July 24, 2025.