Pasadena Man Accused of Using Fraudulently Obtained COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits to Buy Maserati, Meth Trafficking Denies Federal Charges

A Pasadena man who prosecutors say used stolen identities to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulently secured COVID-19 relief and unemployment benefits, using some of the funds to buy a Maserati SUV, as well as traffick methamphetamine, pleaded not guilty to a series of charges Friday in federal court, officials said.

Robert Sloan Mateer, 30, denied charges of possession of at least 15 or more unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud; aggravated identity theft; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, according to U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson Ciaran McEvoy.

Mateer was at the wheel of a Maserati SUV on Oct. 1 when a police officer stopped him for making an illegal U-turn at Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena, according to Pasadena police and federal prosecutors.

An officer spotted what was later found to be a loaded, unserialized “ghost gun” inside Mateer’s glove box while he searched for his car registration, Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Russo said at the time. Mateer and a passenger were detained and a search of the vehicle was conducted.

Seventeen unemployment benefit cards were seized from the vehicle, along with pieces of suspected stolen mail, more than three ounces of methamphetamine, and nearly $200,000 in cash, authorities said. The benefit cards were loaded with more than $133,000 in funds intended for COVID-19-related unemployment relief under the federal CARES Act.

Mateer was already awaiting trial on five counts of identity theft, two counts of credit card theft, burglary, grand theft, and tampering with a vehicle at the time of his arrest in October, according to L.A. County Superior Court records.

He could face anywhere from a 17-year sentence to life in prison if convicted as charged. He’s been ordered to remain in custody pending trial.

See also:

Pasadena Man Accused of Buying Maserati With Fraudulently Obtained COVID-19 Relief Funds, Meth Trafficking

Traffic Stop Leads to Recovery of ‘Ghost Gun,’ Meth, Suspected Stolen Credit Cards, $180,000 in Cash; 2 Arrested