A woman from Brooklyn who admitted to committing fraud in relation to multiple schemes during the pandemic has been given a sentence of three years probation and ordered to pay $650,000 in penalties on Thursday.

According to prosecutors, Chanette Lewis, who is 32 years old, utilized her position at a call center, which is part of a program in New York designed to offer health care workers access to isolation rooms in hotels, to carry out various schemes. They alleged that she gave away hotel accommodations for free to individuals who were not qualified as health care workers or COVID-19 patients, including herself.

Jocelyn Strauber, Commissioner of the New York Department of Investigation, stated that the defendant took advantage of a COVID-19 safe-lodging program for their own financial gain during the pandemic. As a result, they are now facing the repercussions of their illegal actions. The commissioner expressed gratitude to the New York City Emergency Management for bringing this issue to their attention.

This is the most recent instance of individuals suspected of embezzling approximately $280 billion in government assistance during the pandemic throughout the United States, including New York. The sentencing on Thursday was a part of a larger case involving $400,000 in fraudulent activity within the hotel program.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Lewis acknowledged deceiving the emergency programs and creating false legal paperwork from judges, prosecutors, and doctors in order to secure housing for 30 individuals in public housing or larger apartments.

Four individuals, including the accused woman, allegedly obtained real health care workers’ personal information and used it to book hotel rooms. These rooms were then advertised on Facebook for rental purposes. The Department of Investigation Statement reported that the co-defendants have confessed to receiving unemployment benefits in various states and obtaining fraudulent small business loans.

Attempts were made to reach out to a lawyer involved in the plea agreement for this case through phone and email by the Associated Press. It is uncertain if this lawyer is currently representing Lewis, as requests for updated contact information from prosecutors and investigators have not yet been answered.

Lewis was given a three-year probation term and was required to surrender $290,000 and also pay $360,000 in fines. The other defendants either received shorter sentences or are still awaiting sentencing.