Plantersville Woman Sentenced for Unemployment Fraud

Oxford, MS – A judge sentenced a Plantersville woman to over two years in prison yesterday for submitting a fraudulent unemployment benefits application to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) using the name of a relative incarcerated in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Court documents reveal that Misty Burgess, a 49-year-old woman from Plantersville, received over $15,000 in unemployment benefits through fraudulent claims. Initially charged with theft of government property and wire fraud, Burgess pled guilty to theft of government property on May 16, 2024.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Burgess to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The judge also ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $15,604.00 to the State of Mississippi. Burgess fraudulently received unemployment benefits issued under the CARES Act. These benefits came from the State of Mississippi and the federal government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Today’s sentence is an important step in ensuring that individuals who make fraudulent claims to government funds that they are not entitled to will be held accountable for their actions,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner.

Investigator Chris Watkins from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Feleica Wilson prosecuted the case.