Three Arrests in Operation Payback Unemployment Fraud
Summary
State Auditor Shad White announced the arrest of Chadwick Stubbs, Blair Stubbs, and Shinka Stubbs on April 21, 2026, as part of Operation Payback, an investigation into unemployment compensation fraud. The three individuals allegedly submitted fraudulent unemployment claims using the identities of thirteen inmates who were incarcerated with Blair and Chadwick Stubbs at the time the claims were filed with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. If convicted, the Stubbs face up to $36,000 in fines and up to 45 years in prison. State Auditor White noted that Mississippi distributed over half a billion dollars in improper unemployment payments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If convicted Chadwick, Blair, and Shinka Stubbs face up to $36,000 in fines and up to 45 years in prison.”
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GovPing monitors Mississippi State Auditor for new government & legislation regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 3 changes logged to date.
What changed
Special Agents from the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor arrested three individuals as part of an investigation into unemployment compensation fraud involving the identities of thirteen incarcerated inmates. The arrests follow an audit finding that Mississippi issued over half a billion dollars in improper unemployment payments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employers and workforce agencies should treat this as a signal that unemployment program integrity enforcement remains active. Payroll departments and HR functions that administer state unemployment insurance should review their claims verification procedures, particularly for claims filed during extended pandemic-era programs. The penalties referenced (up to $36,000 and 45 years) apply to the named defendants pending conviction.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
04/21/2026
JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced that Special Agents from his office have arrested Chadwick Stubbs, Blair Stubbs, and Shinka Stubbs as part of a detailed investigation into unemployment compensation fraud called Operation Payback.
Chadwick Stubbs, Blair Stubbs, and Shinka Stubbs allegedly submitted fraudulent claims to obtain unemployment funds by using the identities of thirteen different inmates who were incarcerated with Blair and Chadwick Stubbs at the time the claims were submitted to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
“My office discovered that during COVID, Mississippi handed out over half a billion dollars in improper unemployment payments,” said State Auditor Shad White. “We will continue working diligently to hold criminals accountable and recover as much of this misspent money as possible.”
If convicted Chadwick, Blair, and Shinka Stubbs face up to $36,000 in fines and up to 45 years in prison. All persons arrested by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office at any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during normal business hours.
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