❤ mollymouser ❤
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Post by ❤ mollymouser ❤ on Feb 6, 2012 21:54:34 GMT -5
www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-workers-face-firing-for-unemployment-fraud/2012/02/06/gIQAFviNuQ_story.htmlD.C. workers face firing for unemployment fraudBy Mike DeBonis, Monday, February 6, 10:36 AM Nearly 90 city employees were suspended Monday and face potential firing and prosecution for receiving unemployment benefits while holding their city jobs, District officials said. In addition, about 40 former city workers cashed unemployment checks they were not entitled to and also face sanctions. In all, the city estimates it has paid out as much as $800,000 in unemployment benefits to working city employees since 2009. “By holding people accountable, that sends a clear message we’re not tolerating this behavior,” said Lisa Mallory, director of the D.C. Department of Employment Services, which administers the jobless benefits program. Monday’s action, which follows at least three years of scrutiny from local and federal authorities, represents an unusually broad crackdown on corruption in the District government workforce. The volume of benefits claims has soared alongside the District’s jobless rate, and investigators have taken an increasing interest in how the unemployment program guards against fraud. D.C. Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby and Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan are involved in the investigation, and authorities anticipate referring at least some cases to federal prosecutors for criminal action. Mallory, whose office continues to review cases, also said she has worked with the U.S. Department of Labor to prevent this type of fraud. Employees accused of wrongdoing worked in various arms of the District government, including the public schools and the D.C. Council staff, according to a high-ranking official to Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) who was not allowed to speak publicly on the investigation. Some of the employees, Mallory said, received $20,000 or more; others received only a few hundred dollars. The alleged fraud is not complicated, nor is it uncommon in unemployment insurance programs: Workers apply for checks and receive them legitimately for a time but fail to inform authorities when they go back to work. “Some are people who come in and out of government and never stopped [receiving unemployment checks]. Some may have worked in parts of an agency where for the summer months you don’t work,” Mallory said. “There are no clear patterns that we can discern. It’s just a matter of certifying you aren’t receiving income when you are receiving income.” A Gray spokesman declined to release workers’ names Monday, citing privacy restrictions. Mallory said her department regularly passes cases of suspected “overpayments” fraud to the inspector general for investigation and potential prosecution, but Monday’s crackdown represents an unprecedented review of the city’s 33,000-strong government workforce. “Our focus is really on trying to deter,” she said. “We want to make sure that individuals who owe this money are actually held accountable for these overpayments.” Nathan said in a statement that the alleged fraud is “unconscionable for anyone — and particularly District of Columbia employees, who should have high ethical standards.” Jeff Lagda, a spokesman for the Labor Department’s inspector general, cited department policy Monday in not confirming or denying any ongoing investigation. Mallory said her office has launched a new initiative in the past year to combat this type of fraud, cross-checking lists of unemployment recipients with city payroll records and a national database of new hires. The city unemployment office does the comparisons several times a week, she said. Neighboring states have long employed computerized safeguards to prevent overpayments. In Maryland, employers are required to report names, Social Security numbers and wages of their workers on a quarterly basis, said David A. McGlone, deputy executive director of the state’s unemployment insurance office. That data is cross-checked to ensure that no one is collecting benefits while gainfully employed. Government employees, McGlone said, are handled in a “very similar fashion” as those in the private sector. William Walton, the unemployment insurance director for the Virginia Employment Commission, said the commonwealth has been checking those receiving unemployment benefits against the national new-hire directory for more than five years. “We already had a safety net in place,’’ he said. The District employees placed on leave Monday were informed of the allegations against them in letters delivered at least 15 days ago. “They are afforded an opportunity to provide the history of what transpired,” Mallory said. “Most of these individuals, from what we can tell, did not do that.” The D.C. unemployment insurance office was roiled in September when the acting director, Gaby L. Fraser, was dismissed amid fraud allegations. The inspector general continues to investigate the allegations, said Mallory, but she said the new cases are not related to Fraser’s dismissal. A national search remains underway to replace Fraser, who has not been charged with a crime. A financial audit of the unemployment program back to 2009, paid for by federal administrative funds, is set to get underway Monday, Mallory said. D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown (D) said one of the employees placed on administrative leave worked for his office. Brown declined to identify the employee, except to say the person was left jobless after former Council member Harry Thomas Jr. resigned last month. (excerpt; story continues at link)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2012 22:01:55 GMT -5
So if they get fired will they qualify for unemployment checks?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2012 8:12:25 GMT -5
"So if they get fired will they qualify for unemployment checks?"
Normally UI is for people who are laid off, not people fired for cause.
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cme1201
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Post by cme1201 on Feb 7, 2012 8:14:56 GMT -5
"So if they get fired will they qualify for unemployment checks?" Normally UI is for people who are laid off, not people fired for cause. Not to mention that UI fraud is one reason to have eligibility for benefits removed for 1-5 years.
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handyman2
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Post by handyman2 on Feb 7, 2012 13:28:11 GMT -5
Seems like DC is a hot bed of crooks and getting bigger everyday. But they have good examples to learn from over in Congress.
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pepper112765
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Post by pepper112765 on Feb 7, 2012 13:38:22 GMT -5
So if they get fired will they qualify for unemployment checks? Not if you are fired for gross misconduct, which I think this definitely is.
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pepper112765
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Post by pepper112765 on Feb 7, 2012 13:39:18 GMT -5
Seems like DC is a hot bed of crooks and getting bigger everyday. But they have good examples to learn from over in Congress. Well DC is a bit different, they can't even spend their own money without approval from Congress.
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lexxy703
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Post by lexxy703 on Feb 7, 2012 13:43:20 GMT -5
Potential firing?? Why not jail time for fraud? I didn't see anywhere that the article mentioned pressing charges. They should all be jailed & made to pay back the unemplyment funds.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 7, 2012 13:50:40 GMT -5
... They should all be jailed & made to pay back the unemplyment funds. Employment opportunities are somewhat limited when one is jailed thus making it counterproductive to a goal of funds reimbursement.
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pepper112765
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Post by pepper112765 on Feb 7, 2012 13:57:07 GMT -5
Amazing that fully employed people with benefits would try this. Now they will have neither unemployment insurance nor work and they will probably be sued to repay the money too. And they should. That is just plain greedy, fraudulent, and unethical. These people were lying about actively seeking work to the very institution at which they were employed. Not only should they be ordered to pay it back, those that continually defrauded that agency should be criminally prosecuted.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 7, 2012 14:02:36 GMT -5
Wonder how much it would cost taxpayers to prosecute and feed/house them in jail? Wonder if it would be worth it?
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cme1201
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Post by cme1201 on Feb 7, 2012 14:07:25 GMT -5
Wonder how much it would cost taxpayers to prosecute and feed/house them in jail? Wonder if it would be worth it? Is it ever worth it to prosecute those who intentionally break the law?
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workpublic
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Post by workpublic on Feb 7, 2012 14:07:47 GMT -5
well let's just make it legal to steal up to what it would cost cost to house an inmate for year.
you'd have different rates for each state and county.
costs 64k a year, you are allowed to steal 63.99. ;-)
i think walmart already has a "we will look the other way, up to $35 on shoplifting" policy.
at what point does(did) our society become morally bankrupt?
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cme1201
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Post by cme1201 on Feb 7, 2012 14:10:50 GMT -5
Sometimes it isn't. It depends on what the law is. That is why we fine someone for spitting on a sidewalk, but jail them for murder. Cells and guards aren't an unlimited resource and some of the "cheats" might be near-poverty level people trying to steal nickels. You can find an excuse for any and everything can't you. Fraud is fraud, theft is theft.
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workpublic
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Catch and release please
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Post by workpublic on Feb 7, 2012 14:12:51 GMT -5
i'd like to get a breakdown of how many of the city workers were "near poverty"
"Workers apply for checks and receive them legitimately for a time but fail to inform authorities when they go back to work.".
so they are part time legit.
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cme1201
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Post by cme1201 on Feb 7, 2012 14:15:21 GMT -5
You can forget reimbursement if you destroy the person's future employability
Next excuse.
Many people have to pay restitution for their crimes after they get out of prison.
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workpublic
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Catch and release please
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Post by workpublic on Feb 7, 2012 14:17:37 GMT -5
i'm thinking the majority of the thieves also knew what they were doing. mistakes? maybe 1-3%
every sunday you go online or make a call to get your benefits. so the first sunday after you start work, you do what you did for a month or more of sundays before, except this time you answer Yes to "during the past week, did you work?"
it's not like they just send checks every week. each week you must request a check.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 7, 2012 14:20:28 GMT -5
Wonder how much it would cost taxpayers to prosecute and feed/house them in jail? Wonder if it would be worth it? Is it ever worth it to prosecute those who intentionally break the law? There are times that it is so that we can physically isolate those who will do us harm. There are times that it is if the person will not voluntarily rectify the situation economically. There are times that it is to benefit the direct victims of a crime psychologically while society pays collectively. There are times that it is to benefit society at large psychologically. There are times that it isn't because the cost outweighs benefit. Not necessarily easy to determine exactly where that line is in any particular case. But I consider it worth a discussion rather than a knee jerk "prosecute them and throw their butts in jail" attitude.
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workpublic
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Catch and release please
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Post by workpublic on Feb 7, 2012 14:22:55 GMT -5
how about prosecute and garnish? probation and payback.
if they refuse to work, then jail.
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cme1201
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Post by cme1201 on Feb 7, 2012 14:33:19 GMT -5
That would be my preference. Pay it back and learn your lesson. Add a little more for the trouble. What lesson will they learn by simply paying it back? www.finweb.com/insurance/5-consequences-of-committing-unemployment-fraud.htmlSeems they should have learned a lesson before committing fraud. Seems they could have understood that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Seems at some point in time they would have learned that theft is stealing whether you are doing it for a loaf of bread or for extra monthly income.
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pepper112765
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Post by pepper112765 on Feb 7, 2012 14:39:36 GMT -5
Considering the large numbers of people involved and the relatively small amount taken, it's probably nickels and dimes spread out over a lot of folks. Jailing them would cost a mint and not get the money back. In fact, in some ways, it would be better if they NOT make a big deal so that they could find jobs elsewhere and have their checks attached. It was over $800,000 taken and some were doing it longer than others...I heard on the news this morning that they were going to criminally prosecute some.
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cme1201
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Post by cme1201 on Feb 7, 2012 14:43:47 GMT -5
They learn the lesson that they don't keep one single dime, that they have to pay it back and more and that they lost a good job and eligibility for unemployment benefits in the future for nothing. That is what they should have learned BEFORE committing fraud.
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Feb 7, 2012 14:48:31 GMT -5
Wonder how much it would cost taxpayers to prosecute and feed/house them in jail? Wonder if it would be worth it? The same line of reasoning could be used to let pretty much anyone out of jail. Jailing a child molestors is more expensive than letting him out, but I sure as heck don't want to live in a city where that behavior is allowed. These people broke the law. If DC doesn't punish them, they are sending a clear message to other scammers.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 7, 2012 14:55:02 GMT -5
Wonder how much it would cost taxpayers to prosecute and feed/house them in jail? Wonder if it would be worth it? The same line of reasoning could be used to let pretty much anyone out of jail. ... Yes, the same line of reasoning could be used. Remember however: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. Ralph Waldo Emerson
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Feb 7, 2012 15:01:17 GMT -5
So now you're saying it is foolish to jail someone for theft, just because no violence was used, and anybody who doesn't agree with you is feeble minded? Ok, whatever.
Do you also thing Bernie Maddoff should be able to go out and earn back the money he stole? Or do you think that these crooks should get off the hook because they weren't smart enough to figure out how steal larger amounts of money?
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gavinsnana
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Post by gavinsnana on Feb 7, 2012 15:21:14 GMT -5
So if they get fired will they qualify for unemployment checks? They shouldn't!
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Feb 7, 2012 15:36:27 GMT -5
One thing some people fail to see is that jails have two purposes, to punish/rehibilitate/isolate criminals and the other purpose is to deterr the general population from doing the same.
Fear of having your life ruined is pretty much the only think keeping a large chunk of the population from stealing and other crime. Even a week's worth of UE is a lot of money. So if you let someone who has stolen large amounts of money get away with a slap on the wrist, you are basically encouraging theft, and making everyone who did not steal feel like a schmuck.
This is one mistake liberals tend to make. They focus all their compassion and money on those who did the wrong things and don't seem to care how their policies will affect those who did the right things.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 7, 2012 16:14:35 GMT -5
So now you're saying it is foolish... No, I was saying it would be foolish to consistently apply the same reasoning for prosecution of all types of crime. ... The same line of reasoning could be used to let pretty much anyone out of jail. Jailing a child molestors is more expensive than letting him out, but I sure as heck don't want to live in a city where that behavior is allowed. ... The jailing of child molesters is done on a different criteria than the economic impact to taxpayers.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 7, 2012 16:18:17 GMT -5
One thing some people fail to see is that jails have two purposes, to punish/rehibilitate/isolate criminals and the other purpose is to deterr the general population from doing the same. Fear of having your life ruined is pretty much the only think keeping a large chunk of the population from stealing and other crime. Even a week's worth of UE is a lot of money. So if you let someone who has stolen large amounts of money get away with a slap on the wrist, you are basically encouraging theft, and making everyone who did not steal feel like a schmuck. This is one mistake liberals tend to make. They focus all their compassion and money on those who did the wrong things and don't seem to care how their policies will affect those who did the right things. I don't know about "liberals" but this person who is a liberal doesn't just jerk his knee and says send them to jail if it is stupid to do so. btw, I don't steal because I consider it morally wrong, not from fear of punishment.
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Feb 7, 2012 16:36:53 GMT -5
So exactly what kind of message do you think you are sending when someone who break my car's $300 window to get the $20 in my purse goes to jail, but someone who stole hundreds, maybe thousands gets a slap on the wrist? Or do you think all nonviolent stealing is OK? Would you be for letting someone who stole $200 from t he local convenience store using a fake gun get away with just repaying what he stole? What if he committed the same crime every week for months? This is exactly what those doing the unemployment scam did-- stealing hundreds of dollars a week using nonviolent means.
Do you think people should get away with theft and fraud just because they have jobs and pay taxes? Even one week's worth of UE benefits is a substantial sum of money. It is very stupid to send someone to jail for stealing small amounts of money while those who stole thousands get away with repaying it just because the bigger theft was done using white collar means.
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