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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2006
Ten Convicted of Unemployment Insurance Fraud; $56,000 in Restitution Ordered
Missouri Department of Labor Aggressively Investigates Fraud CasesJefferson City , MO – The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations today announced its referrals resulted in 10 criminal convictions for unemployment insurance fraud and charges were filed against seventeen more individuals. These convictions resulted in court ordered restitution of $56,199.08.
These individuals were investigated by the Department’s Division of Employment Security and were referred to the county’s Prosecuting or Circuit Attorney. Among the cases successfully prosecuted were:
- Kirk Bell was sentenced on September 15, 2006 in St. Louis County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $8,626.36.
- Aaron Black was sentenced on August 28, 2006 in Nodaway County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $6,272.
- Brian Burroughs was sentenced on August 1, 2006 in St. Charles County to two years probation and ordered restitution of $2,214.
- Kim Jones was sentenced on September 14, 2006 in St. Louis County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $4,996.
- Valerie Roberson was sentenced on August 24, 2006 in St. Louis County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $6,100.
- Chante Simmons was sentenced on September 8, 2006 in St. Louis County to three years probation and ordered restitution of $5,752.
- Julia Thornton was sentenced on August 28, 2006 in Buchanan County to three years probation and ordered restitution of $4,550.
- Antonnia Washington was sentenced on August 22, 2006 in St. Louis County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $5,750.
- Marcus Watson was sentenced on September 7, 2006 in St. Louis County to two years probation and ordered restitution of $5,790.72.
- Denise Williams-Shields was sentenced on August 11, 2006 in St. Louis County to two years probation and ordered restitution of $6,148.
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Restitution is paid to the Missouri Division of Employment Security and is returned to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund.
In addition, seventeen individuals were charged for unemployment insurance fraud.
The following individuals were charged for stealing the following amount in Cass County:
- Lonzo Adams, $6,350
- Winfield R. Tucker, $7,810
The following individuals were charged with stealing the following amount in Jackson County:
- Orlando R. Burnham, $4,987.53
- Lesley V. Byers, $4,750
- Russell P. Davis, $5,644
- Kevin O. Dunaway, $4,229
- William E. Hunt, $4,060
- William C. Johnson, $5,718
- Janet R Melson, $6,500
- Yalene R. Simpson, $4,914
- Bettye J. Vaughn, $4,162
- Lisa M. Williams, $4,785
The following individuals were charged with stealing the following amount in St. Louis City:
- Kevin J. Denson, $5,810.89
- Delinir Dolic, $5,122
- Nicholas Freeman, $6,009
- Chelsea A. Maxey, $4,564
- Stanley Morris, $5,578
The Division of Employment Security actively pursues criminal prosecution of individuals who file fraudulent claims. Such claims raise employer taxes and reduce the fund that is used for paying benefits.
Fraudulent unemployment insurance benefit claims are those collected by individuals who do not qualify. 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 504 · Jefferson City, MO
65102-0504
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