A former corrections officer with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Jasmine Murphy, pleaded guilty on April 2 in federal court in Boston to charges related to fraudulent applications for pandemic relief funds.
Murphy admitted to seven counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution. The charges stem from her efforts to obtain benefits through programs such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), both created under the CARES Act. Sentencing is scheduled for July 9, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns.
According to court documents, Murphy obtained approximately $44,346 in unemployment benefits and small business loan funds that she was not entitled to receive. Before joining the sheriff’s department in January 2022, she applied for pandemic-related assistance while working at trucking and workforce services companies. She also collected unemployment insurance benefits during her early tenure at the department.
Murphy and another officer, Christnel Orisca—who pleaded guilty in November 2025—were indicted together in December 2025. Both made false claims about their employment status on PUA applications and submitted inaccurate information regarding income or payroll on PPP loan forms. They also requested forgiveness of PPP loans based on these misrepresentations.
The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine; making false statements to a financial institution carries up to 30 years imprisonment, five years supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Sentences will be determined according to federal guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the plea alongside officials from multiple agencies who assisted with the investigation including the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Boston Police Department; and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department.
The case is part of ongoing efforts by the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established by the Attorney General on May 17, 2021 which aims “to marshal resources…to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.” More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
