A Georgia man pleads guilty to a wire fraud charge after falsely claiming to have COVID-19 to his employer.
What We Know:
- Santwon Antonio Davis claimed to his employer he was diagnosed with COVID-19. He plead guilty to one count of wire fraud Monday. The charge was made back in May of this year. His fake diagnosis cost the company about $100,000 because the company had to temporarily close the facility as well as have four coworkers quarantine.
- Attorney for the district, Byung J. “Bjay” Pak, said in a statement that Davis “caused unnecessary economic loss to his employer and distress to his coworkers and their families.” NBC News reached out to Davis’s public defender, but they did not comment on the matter.
- The court documents referred to the company as a fortune 500 company, but the name was not released. Back in March, the company told employees they would receive paid time off to quarantine if they contracted the virus. About a week later, Davis said the company he and his mother tested positive for the virus.
- Davis sent in a letter excusing his absence, but the company found it to be false. The medical center he claimed he was a patient of told the company he was never a patient. Davis later admitted in court that he was never infected.
He also pleads guilty to a bank fraud charge, where he made false claims of his earnings. While a sentence has not been scheduled, Davis is expected to serve three years in prison according to a plea agreement.
