A former corrections officer for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Jasmine Murphy, pleaded guilty on April 2 in federal court in Boston to charges related to fraudulent applications for pandemic relief programs. Murphy admitted to seven counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution.
Murphy’s case is part of ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address misuse of funds distributed through CARES Act programs such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The case highlights how individuals sought personal gain by submitting false information during the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting public trust in emergency relief initiatives.
According to prosecutors, Murphy obtained approximately $44,346 in unemployment benefits and small business loan funds she was not entitled to receive. She applied for these benefits before joining the Sheriff’s Department while working for trucking and workforce services companies. After beginning her employment with the department in January 2022, she continued collecting some unemployment insurance benefits illegally early in her tenure. Both Murphy and another indicted officer, Christnel Orisca, made false statements about their employment status on PUA applications and submitted misleading information about income or payroll on PPP loan forms. They also requested forgiveness for these loans based on false representations.
Orisca pleaded guilty in November 2025 and is scheduled for sentencing on May 12, 2026. Sentencing for Murphy is set for July 9, 2026 before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns.
The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison with three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine; making false statements to a financial institution carries up to 30 years imprisonment with five years supervised release and a $1 million fine. Sentences are determined by federal judges according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the plea alongside officials from several investigative agencies who contributed assistance: “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao is prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department established its COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force in May 2021 as part of broader efforts against pandemic-related fraud schemes targeting relief programs.