LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Federal prosecutors say Detroit produced not one but two masterminds of financial aid fraud, each accused of rerouting millions in student aid for personal gain.

Brandon Robinson, 41, allegedly built a shadow network of fake enrollees across 24 states and more than 100 schools. Federal prosecutors say he filed aid applications for over 1,200 people, producing $16 million in student aid awards and pocketing more than $10 million.

MORE NEWS: Detroit’s Public Schools See Drop in Percentage of Chronically Absent Students

Robinson is also accused of double-dipping during the pandemic, filing more than 100 fraudulent unemployment claims worth over $1 million. He was arrested September 24th and appeared in court the same day, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Michelle Hill, 48, is charged in a separate complaint tied to Wayne County Community College. Between 2015 and 2025, she allegedly recruited more than 80 individuals into look-alike degree programs and sometimes completed their coursework herself to keep aid flowing. Prosecutors say the scheme funneled more than $3 million in awards, with $2.5 million disbursed. Hill was arrested September 23rd.

Both defendants are charged by complaint, which means the cases still await potential indictments before trial. 

The prosecutions, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John K. Neal and Ryan A. Particka, stem from investigations by the Education and Labor inspectors general, with the FBI assisting in Robinson’s case.