A married California truck driver has been sentenced to one year in prison after giving his online girlfriend the personal details of 375 colleagues, enabling fraudulent unemployment claims worth nearly $2.9 million.
David Ray, 68, met Aryanah Davison on a sugar baby website in 2019 while looking for a girlfriend. After months of messages, he became romantically involved with her and took out several lines of credit to fund her lifestyle, including buying her a new luxury SUV.
When Ray could no longer keep up with her spending, he agreed to provide information about his co-workers at Williams Tank Lines, court documents said.
Davison and Ardavan Alamoutinia allegedly used the details to submit about 500 claims across 27 states under the Covid-era CARES Act. The claims were filed using their own names, Ray’s name, his wife’s name and the identities of his colleagues.
The money was loaded on to debit cards, which were used to withdraw cash from ATMs, transfer funds to personal accounts and move money into cryptocurrency. Ray received approximately $144,400.
Prosecutors said Ray had been vulnerable and had been manipulated by Davison and Alamoutinia, but argued that he could have stopped the scheme and chose not to.
“When life got tough, David Ray sold out his co-workers and friends – and earned over $144,000 doing it. The defendant knew better,” prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum.
They added that Ray’s loneliness and addiction might explain why he took that path, but “cannot excuse his behavior”.
Ray pleaded guilty in March 2023 and was sentenced on Wednesday. In court, he admitted that he had failed to control his impulses and said: “I allowed myself to be corrupted.”
He has since attended therapy and relied on his family for support, according to information given to the court. His wife was present at the sentencing hearing.
Brian Getz, Ray’s lawyer, said his client would “forever regret his fall from grace”.
“After 68 years of rectitude and faith, his corruption was complete,” Mr Getz said. “He welcomes his punishment as the crucible for his future. He will forever endeavour to walk the path of righteousness. He will return to society and rise again.”
Alamoutinia was sentenced to ten years in prison earlier this year. Davison has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
