**Two Detroit Men Charged in Major Federal Student Aid Fraud Scheme**
*By E. Pluribus Unum | September 28, 2025*
Two Detroit men have been charged with defrauding the federal higher education financial aid system, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Jerome Gorgon.
The first complaint charges Brandon Robinson, 41, of Detroit, with wire fraud related to false Federal Student Aid (FSA) claims submitted in the names of other individuals. Between January 2015 and February 2024, Robinson submitted fraudulent FSA claims for more than 1,200 individuals. These claims involved over 100 schools across 24 states.
Robinson’s scheme resulted in the awarding of over $16 million in FSA benefits, with more than $10 million already disbursed. Additionally, the complaint alleges that Robinson filed over 100 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims between April 2020 and March 2023, causing the disbursement of over $1 million in UI benefits.
Robinson was arrested earlier this week and appeared in federal court this afternoon on the charges. Court documents reveal that Robinson led a years-long scheme to obtain fraudulent Federal Student Aid funds using so-called “straw students” who were enrolled primarily to receive FSA benefits.
The second complaint charges Michelle Hill, 48, also of Detroit, with wire fraud in connection with a separate FSA scheme. Hill was arrested earlier this week and made her initial appearance in federal court.
According to court documents, between July 2015 and July 2025, Hill obtained fraudulent FSA benefits involving more than 80 individuals, mostly enrolled at Wayne County Community College. The complaint alleges that many of these individuals were enrolled in the same or similar degree programs and taking the same or similar online courses.
Furthermore, it is alleged that Hill often completed coursework on behalf of these students to create the appearance that they were progressing toward degrees. This deception served to prolong their eligibility for FSA benefits.
As a result of this elaborate scheme, substantial federal aid funds were fraudulently obtained.
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*Topics:* Crime / Corruption
*Keywords:* Federal Student Aid, Fraud, Wire Fraud, Unemployment Insurance Fraud, Detroit, Wayne County Community College
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**Comments:**
– *E. Pluribus Unum*: Fraud in a federal program??? I don’t think so. Those people are pretty careful with a buck.
– *shelterguy*: Fraud in Medicare & Medicaid will curl your hair. Any doctor or fake doctor can file a claim for fake services rendered.
– *Bobbyvotes*: The FSA is in dire need of a deep-dive audit.
– *lee martell*: Another Robinson.
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