A Tucson husband and wife have been sentenced after admitting to fraudulently collecting tens of thousands of dollars in pandemic unemployment benefits, state officials said this week.
David Christopher Ellis, 42, was handed a six-year prison sentence in January after pleading guilty to fraudulent schemes and artifices in Pima County Superior Court. According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Ellis is a repeat felony offender and is now in the custody of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.
His wife, Gabbrielle Elizabeth Ellis, 44, also admitted guilt in the case and was sentenced to seven years of supervised probation in December. In addition to their sentences, the couple has been ordered to repay $62,151 to the state.
Prosecutors said the pair exploited the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program at the height of the COVID-19 crisis, filing multiple fraudulent claims between June and August 2020. Investigators determined the applications were submitted using stolen personal information, including identities belonging to incarcerated individuals, allowing the couple to divert benefit payments to themselves.
Authorities estimate the scheme generated more than $60,000 in wrongful payments — funds intended to support Arizonans who lost work during the pandemic.
Attorney General Kris Mayes said the case underscores ongoing efforts to crack down on identity theft and public benefits fraud. In a statement, Mayes emphasized that individuals who misuse emergency assistance programs will face prosecution and restitution orders, adding that her office continues to coordinate with law enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure aid reaches eligible recipients.
The case reflects a broader push by state officials to pursue pandemic-era fraud, where ongoing enforcement actions and consumer protection initiatives are regularly posted.
