California Trucker Sentenced for $2.8 Million Unemployment Fraud

Ray, a California truck driver, met Aryanah Davison online in 2019. He borrowed money to send her and bought her a luxury SUV, then shared personal information belonging to 375 coworkers after he fell into debt, prosecutors said. Davison and co-conspirator Ardavan Alamoutinia used the information to file fraudulent unemployment claims in 27 states, bringing in about $2.8 million in improper payments.

The group filed roughly 500 claims, using names that included Ray’s and his wife’s as well as those of his colleagues. The proceeds were accessed through debit cards, withdrawn at ATMs, transferred into accounts and put into cryptocurrency. Ray received about $144,000 of the money.

In 2023, Ray admitted to committing wire and mail fraud as well as identity theft. At his sentencing in Philadelphia on November 4, he told the judge he had failed to control his impulses and said, “I allowed myself to be corrupted.” He said therapy, family and faith had helped him since his arrest. His wife attended the hearing.

Prosecutors acknowledged Ray had been manipulated and was vulnerable, but argued he knew sharing his colleagues’ information was wrong and could have stopped the fraud. Judge Juan R. Sánchez described Ray’s conduct as bizarre while noting his efforts to rebuild his life. Alamoutinia received a 10-year sentence earlier in 2026. Davison admitted guilt and is awaiting her sentencing.