Two Arrested for EDD Fraud Totaling More Than $600,000
On February 2, 2021, the Sacramento Police Department North Gang Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop on 24-year-old Adrian Sykes and found him to be in possession of a fully automatic Glock handgun. Officers conducted a probation search of his residence and seized drugs, body armor and five additional firearms. Those firearms included a loaded Masterpiece Arms Mac-9 with no serial number, an Anderson Manufacturing AR-15, and an unregistered loaded ABC Rifle AR-Pistol. Officers also found six Employment Development Department (EDD) debit cards. At that time, Sykes was charged with six counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing drugs with a firearm, and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Sykes posted bail on these offenses and was released from custody.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, Sacramento Police Department, and EDD conducted a joint investigation into the six EDD cards that were located. They found that Sykes and his girlfriend, 26-year-old Brittney Murchison, had filed multiple fraudulent EDD claims. In total, 35 different fraudulent claims were filed using the personal identifying information of victims from across the country and over $600,000 was illegally obtained.
The Sacramento Police Department North Gang Enforcement Team arrested Brittney Murchison on May 27, 2021 for committing EDD fraud. Murchison was charged with 16 counts of EDD fraud and one count of identity theft. Sykes was located and arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 7, 2021 by agents of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department and agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Sykes is currently in custody in Las Vegas pending extradition to Sacramento, California where he will face an additional 35 counts of EDD fraud and one count of identity theft.
According to District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, “Law enforcement across the state has witnessed staggering EDD fraud committed by criminals and their accomplices. At the same time, we have witnessed an alarming increase of illegal firearms in our communities. This dangerous combination undoubtedly has fueled a dramatic increase in violent crime throughout the state. Sacramento’s law enforcement agencies will continue to partner together to investigate EDD fraud and the additional havoc it brings to our community.”