A Detroit man is facing federal charges after investigators say he allegedly stole more than $275,000 in unemployment benefits using stolen identities.
Feds linked the man to the case after discovering he spent some of the money on jewelry and an OnlyFans account registered in his name.
According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court, Taelin Knight, 25, is now charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the criminal complaint.
Federal investigators allege Knight filed at least 52 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims between May 2020 and August 2021, targeting pandemic relief programs in eight different states. Many of the claims were tied to Knight’s Detroit home address, personal phone number, and a series of email accounts.
Some of the identities used belonged to real people who later confirmed they had never filed claims and were unaware their information had been stolen. Investigators say debit cards tied to those fraudulent claims were mailed to Knight’s address and used to withdraw money or make purchases — including one transaction on OnlyFans, according to the criminal complaint.
The email linked to that account was also used in multiple fraudulent claims, and the profile image matched Knight’s appearance.
Surveillance images from an ATM captured a clear shot of Knight withdrawing money using one of the stolen cards.
Agents say Knight is a known associate of the “264 Gang,” also referred to as “Always On Go.”
In June 2023, police responded to a ShotSpotter alert on Beaconsfield Street, where Knight had been shot twice. Officers arrived to find him wounded in a driveway. Nearby, they found a Glock 9mm pistol with an extended magazine and a bag of suspected narcotics. DNA tests later confirmed Knight’s blood and DNA were on the gun — a violation, as he is a convicted felon banned from possessing firearms, the affidavit reads.
The charges were formally filed after a multi-agency investigation led by the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the FBI, ATF, and Detroit Police.
