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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 11, 2005
Twelve Convicted of Unemployment Insurance Fraud; Fifteen Indicted
Missouri Department of Labor Aggressively Pursues Fraud Cases
Jefferson City – The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations today announced 12 more individuals were convicted of unemployment insurance fraud and 15 more were indicted since January 2005. These convictions resulted in court ordered restitution of nearly $70,000. These additional cases raise the total number of convictions this year to 17.
These individuals were investigated by the Department’s Division of Employment Security and were referred to the county’s Prosecuting Attorney or Circuit Attorney. Among the cases successfully prosecuted were:
- Taylor J. Bloate was sentenced on September 26, 2005 in St. Louis City to three years probation and ordered restitution of $7,529.00.
- Windy Hall was sentenced on June 30, 2005 in St. Louis City to three years probation and ordered restitution of $6,022.50.
- Freddie Henderson was sentenced on September 8, 2005 in Jackson County to two years probation and ordered restitution of $6,376.17.
- George Jones, Jr. was sentenced on June 15, 2005 in St. Louis City to three years probation and ordered restitution of $3,967.00.
- Shirley Kran was sentenced on October 3, 2005 in Phelps County to two years probation and ordered restitution of $6,500.00.
- Aaron Martin was sentenced on September 30, 2005 in St. Louis County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $6,500.00.
- Eric K. Moore was sentenced on February 10, 2005 in St. Louis City to two years probation and ordered restitution of $5,154.00.
- Russell Nielson was sentenced on September 15, 2005 in Bollinger County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $4,682.72.
- Donna Reed was sentenced on October 4, 2005 in Warren County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $5,658.00.
- Hattie Rogers was sentenced on June 16, 2005 in Jackson County to two years probation and ordered restitution of $5,302.00.
- Reginald Smith was sentenced on May 25, 2005 in St. Louis City to five years probation and ordered restitution of $7,248.00.
- Demond Turner was sentenced on August 1, 2005 in St. Louis City to two years probation and ordered restitution of $4,687.00.
Restitution is paid to the Missouri Division of Employment Security and is returned to the Missouri Employment Security Trust Fund.
In addition, 15 individuals were indicted in October for unemployment insurance fraud.
- The following individuals were indicted in St. Louis City and were charged with stealing the following amounts:
- Lamar Clay, $14,055.33
- Brenda Hayes, $6,303.00
- Angelo Jackson, $4,956.00
- Malvin Mayo, $4,875.00
- Mildred Parish, $2,647.00
- Latasha Shegog, $9,308.00
- The following individuals were indicted in St. Louis County and were charged with stealing the following amounts:
- Phillip Alexander, $4,672.00
- Timmy Clark, $3,750.00
- Willie Crenshaw, $7,290.61
- The following individuals were indicted in Jackson County and were charged with stealing the following amounts:
- Ricky S. Dixon, $4,802.00
- Mark Grimes, $4,649.00
- Patricia Kirkwood, $13,556.00
- Sondra J. Otubu, $9,624.85
- Timothy White, $5,658.00
- The following individuals were indicted in St. Charles County and were charged with stealing the following amounts:
- Frank Linthicum, $5,565.00
The Division of Employment Security actively pursues criminal prosecution of individuals who file fraudulent claims. Such claims raise employer tax rates and reduce the fund that is used for paying benefits.
Fraudulent unemployment insurance benefit claims are those collected by individuals who do not quality for them. Under Missouri law, workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and are actively seeking work are eligible to receive up to 26 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits. Workers must also have worked in covered employment and earned certain qualifying wages to be entitled to any unemployment insurance benefits.
For more information regarding the Division of Employment Security or to report potential unemployment insurance fraud, visit www.dolir.mo.gov/es or call (573) 751-3215.
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· P.O. Box 1958 · Jefferson City, MO
65102-1958
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