Five Southwest Virginia residents have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court after working with dozens of others to file fraudulent claims for more than $499,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s. The release states that Patrick Payne, 43; Randall Johnson, 42; Steven Mullins Jr., 33; Curtis Mullins, 25; and Melinda Davis, 58, worked together to file claims through the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) website. They’re even accused of filing claims for people not eligible to receive pandemic unemployment benefits – including inmates in Southwest Virginia regional jails.