Yorba Linda man charged after receiving nearly $600,000 in insurance fraud benefits

Federal authorities on Friday charged a Yorba Linda man who prosecutors said used 200 stolen identities to fraudulently bag nearly $600,000 in unemployment insurance benefits.

Jeffrey Silhanek, 39 faces two counts of mail fraud, said the United States Attorney’s Office Central District of California in a news release. Silhanek got his hands on stolen identities and used them to open post office boxes.

Prosecutors said he used the stolen addresses and names to call the California Employment Development Department, fraudulently saying that the individuals were laid off and entitled to unemployment benefits. He instructed workers to send the benefits to the post office boxes he controlled.

Silhanek received $586,000 as a result of the ruse. He is set to be arraigned July 8.