South Los Angeles woman pleads guilty to

Bank Fraud

ASouth Los Angeles woman pleaded guilty Monday to her role in a scheme that used the stolen identities of California prison inmates and others to fraudulently obtain at least $993,181 in state unemployment insurance benefits.

Mykara Destiny Robinson, 24, is the 13th and final defendant to plead guilty in the scheme led by a woman serving a life sentence for murder, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Robinson pleaded guilty in Los Angeles federal court to one count of bank fraud.

The lead defendants in the case are Natalie Le Demola, 38, originally of Corona and who currently is serving a life prison sentence after she was convicted in 2005 of firstdegree murder, and Carleisha Plummer, 33, of Los Angeles, a close prison associate of Demola's until her parole in July 2020.

By City News Service

Riverside police last week served a search warrant and arrested a Mission Grove man for alleged possession of illegal guns and drugs, the city announced.

"Officers assigned to Watch A Patrol obtained information regarding an unknown person with arrest warrants who was possibly involved in the illegal manufacturing and selling of P-80 firearms, more commonly referred to as 'ghost guns,'" according to the city of Riverside. "Officers Joel Leandro and Richard Villanueva Jr. would utilize their time in between calls for service and on-sight activity to continue their investigation into this alleged illegal activity."

Police were ultimately able to identify 33-yearold Skyler Nathan Eric Cline as a suspect, along with his vehicle and residence in Riverside's Mission Grove neighborhood, according to the city. Cline is currently on active probation and had five warrants for his arrest, all for weapons and drug offenses. He also is a convicted felon for similar criminal violations.

Riverside police, including the department's Post Release Accountability and Compliance Team, served on a search warrant on April 19 at Cline's residence in the 600 block of Garwood Court, officials said. Officers found the suspect hiding in the attic and were able to safely take him into custody.

A subsequent search of Cline's residence turned up three handguns including a P-80, one Tec-9 pistol, parts of a P-80 handgun, various firearm magazines, a large quantity of ammunition, 23 grams of suspected methamphetamine, over 100 bankcards, blank checks, identification and social security cards, passports as well as other confirmed and suspected stolen property.

Cline was arrested and later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for his outstanding warrants, along with several weapons violations, identity theft, fraud, possession of stolen property and violation of probation, according to the city. He is currently being held without bail.

“The initiative Officers Leandro and Villanueva Jr. showed demonstrates the efforts our patrol officers and detectives will make to keep Riverside protected from those who want to cause harm,” Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said in a statement. “If you are searching for a law enforcement agency to become your new home, look to the Riverside Police Department as a place where your hard work and dedication is appreciated and welcomed by your work family and community.”

Also last week, Gonzalez announced Officers Leandro and Villanueva Jr. as 2022 Sworn Employees of the Year at the Riverside Police Department. Leandro has four and a half years of law enforcement experience, and Villanueva has three years.

Demola, Plummer and other co-conspirators would acquire the names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of people who were not eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, including pandemic benefits, because they were employed, retired or incarcerated, according to a 39-count indictment returned in May 2022.

Members of the conspiracy then used the information to make fraudulent online applications for benefits from the California Employment Development Depart- ment. Once the applications were approved, EDD-funded debit cards were issued that allowed the withdrawal of money from ATMs across Southern California.

According to Robinson's plea agreement, the conspiracy began in June 2020. Robinson and her co-defendants assumed the identities of California prison inmates and used EDD debit cards issued in their names to make fraudulent cash withdrawals of benefits from Bank of America ATMs in Los Angeles County.

During the scheme, Robinson and others withdrew at least $993,181 in EDD funds from about 151 fraudulent accounts, according to federal prosecutors

U.S. District Judge John Walter scheduled a July 3 sentencing hearing for Robinson, at which time she will face a potential sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison, prosecutors noted.

Demola pleaded guilty last month in downtown Los Angeles to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. At her July 10 sentencing hearing, she faces up to 30 years on the conspiracy and bank fraud counts and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for the aggravated identity theft count.

Plummer pleaded guilty on April 17 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. She faces up to 32 years in federal prison at her July 14 sentencing hearing.

The other defendants have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, bank fraud, and/or aggravated identity theft based on their respective roles within the scheme. Most defendants will face a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.