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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 30, 2005
Nine Convicted of Unemployment Insurance Fraud; Eleven Charged
Missouri Department of Labor Aggressively Pursues Fraud Cases
Jefferson City – The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations today announced nine additional individuals were convicted of unemployment insurance fraud and 11 more were charged since January 2005. These convictions resulted in court ordered restitution of over $54,000. These additional cases raise the total number of convictions this year to 122.
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:
- Ann Bennett was sentenced on August 22, 2005 in St. Louis City to five years probation and ordered restitution of $3,403.
- Lawana Wise was sentenced on September 12, 2005 in St. Louis City to five years probation and ordered restitution of $5,600.
- Russell Nielson was sentenced on October 6, 2005 in Bollinger County to two years probation and ordered restitution of $4,682.72.
- Edward Dillworth was sentenced on October 11, 2005 in St. Louis City to three years probation and ordered restitution of $9,311.
- Stephen Gillespie was sentenced on October 20, 2005 in Clay County to two years probation and ordered restitution of $5,278.
- Chuck Rimbey was sentenced on October 31, 2005 in Cass County to three years probation and ordered restitution of $6,083.
- Antwane Jackson was sentenced on November 4, 2005 in St. Louis County to three years probation and ordered restitution of $3,490.
- Keith Mitchell was sentenced on November 17, 2005 in Franklin County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $8,757.
- James Walker was sentenced on November 22, 2005 in St. Louis County to three years probation and ordered restitution of $7,693.
Restitution is paid to the Missouri Division of Employment Security and is returned to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund.
In addition, 11 individuals were charged in November for unemployment insurance fraud.
- The following individuals were indicted in St. Louis City and were charged with stealing the following amounts:
- Richard A. Blount, $7,248
- Brenda Griffin, $6,110
- Romanda Griffin, $5,590
- Gwan Holmes, $5,942
- Patasha Robinson, $5,015
- The following individual in St. Louis County was charged with stealing the following amount:
- Benjamin Allen, $6,191
- The following individual in Jefferson County was charged with stealing the following amount:
- Jeanette Roche, $5,527.22
- The following individual in Shannon County was charged with stealing the following amount:
- Paula Stewart, $5,689
- The following individuals in Greene County were charged with stealing the following amounts:
- Pedro Ramirez, $6,168
- Gail Tuter, $5,250
- The following individual in Ray County and was charged with stealing the following amount:
- Donna Jo Vance, $4,250
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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Information and Planning · 421 East Dunklin
· P.O. Box 504 · Jefferson City, MO
65102-0504
573-751-7500 · 573-751-6552 (Fax)
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