DATE: February 10, 2025
CASE: Cedric Daniels and Allison Illahi (Case #21FE014558)
PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney David Bass, Special Investigations Unit
On January 22, 2025, Cedric Daniels and Allison Illahi pled guilty to Employment Development Department (EDD) fraud and possession of heroin and methamphetamine for purposes of sale. On February 6, 2025, the Honorable Satnum Rattu sentenced Daniels to 6 years in state prison and ordered him to pay restitution to EDD in the amount of $533,282. Illahi was previously sentenced to the same terms and conditions.
In 2020, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation began investigating EDD fraud amongst inmates who were opening fraudulent unemployment claims in the names of other inmates. On March 4, 2021, investigators searched Daniels’ prison cell and recovered multiple contraband cellular phones. After searching the phones, investigators discovered that Daniels communicated with Illahi to conduct EDD fraud using inmate information.
On August 23, 2021, law enforcement searched Illahi’s home pursuant to a search warrant and discovered drugs, guns, ammunition, multiple EDD claims forms, ledgers tracking EDD claims for inmates, and the personal identifying information of those inmates used to commit EDD fraud. Together, Daniels and Illahi fraudulently obtained approximately $533,282 in unemployment benefits.
