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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2006
Seventeen Convicted of Unemployment Insurance Fraud; $93,000 in Restitution Ordered
Missouri Department of Labor Aggressively Investigates Fraud Cases
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations today announced its referrals resulted in 17 criminal convictions for unemployment insurance fraud and charges were filed against six more individuals. These convictions resulted in court ordered restitution of $93,417.92.
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:
- Rhonda Bruce was sentenced on August 15, 2006 in St. Louis City to three years probation and ordered restitution of $2,864.54.
- Darline Buchanan was sentenced on May 2, 2006 in St. Charles County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $5,419.
- Linda Gardner was sentenced on August 4, 2006 in St. Louis County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $6,203.
- Courtney Grigsby was sentenced on August 14, 2006 in St. Louis City to five years probation and ordered restitution of $5,916.
- Shelia Harrison was sentenced on July 12, 2006 in Jackson County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $4,526.
- Patricia Kirkwood was sentenced on May 10, 2006 in Jackson County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $13,406.
- Debbie Lamb was sentenced on August 7, 2006 in Lafayette County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $5,836.
- Lisa Martin was sentenced on July 25, 2006 in Jackson County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $4,261.
- Laura Redick was sentenced on July 25, 2006 in Jackson County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $4,966.
- Itasha Robinson was sentenced on May 12, 2006 in Greene County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $6,397.
- Yvatt Salmond was sentenced August 14, 2006 in St. Louis City to two years probation and ordered restitution of $5,126.
- Charles Strong was sentenced July 13, 2006 in Jackson County to two years probation and ordered restitution of $5,808.
- Aaron Townsend was sentenced July 28, 2006 in St. Louis County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $5,500.
- Michael Vick was sentenced on June 9, 2006 in Lincoln County to three years probation and ordered restitution of $5,338.
- John Watson was sentenced on July 13, 1006 in Jackson County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $6,147.38.
- Michael White was sentenced on May 25, 2006 in Scott County to five years probation and ordered restitution of $5,704.
- Peggy Wittenborn was sentenced on July 17, 2006 in Lawrence County to two years probation. Full restitution has been paid.
Restitution is paid to the Missouri Division of Employment Security and is returned to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund.
In addition, six individuals were charged for unemployment insurance fraud.
The following individuals were charged for stealing the following amount in St. Louis City:
- Celeste M. Cotton, $6,250
- Roderick Hope, $6,030
- Keith A. Miller, Jr., $4,847
- Carl A. Washington, $4,049
- Carl M. Washington, $4,098
The following individual was charged with stealing the following amount in Franklin County:
- Ryan L. Bridgman, $5,000
In addition to prosecution cases, the Division of Employment Security collects restitution for overpaid benefits and charges monetary penalties from claimants. In August, those amounts were $430,163 and $490,294, respectively.
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.
In a related matter, the Division also collects unemployment insurance penalties and interest from employers. Penalties are imposed is an employer fails to file any required report by the specified due date. Interest accrues on contributions that are due and unpaid after each quarterly due date. In August, the Division collected $179,537.78 in penalties and interest from employers.
For more information regarding the Division of Employment Security of to report potential unemployment insurance fraud, visit www.dolir.mo.gov/es of call (573) 751-3215.
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· P.O. Box 504 · Jefferson City, MO
65102-0504
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