Attorney General Jason Miyares of Virginia has announced that his office has secured six indictments for unemployment compensation fraud, as well as eleven guilty pleas for obtaining money by false pretenses. The indictments and guilty pleas were the result of the Attorney General's Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit's efforts to investigate and prosecute fraudulent claims.
Between August 2023 and November 2023, the Commonwealth of Virginia will receive $91,756 in restitution to compensate for the fraudulent filings that took place during the pandemic. Attorney General Miyares emphasized the importance of holding those responsible accountable, stating, "Our unemployment system exists to support Virginians when they're down. This system was scammed and taken advantage of repeatedly during the pandemic, hurting our Commonwealth and our fellow Virginians."
The successful outcome of these cases was a collaborative effort between the Virginia Employment Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, and investigations conducted by the Virginia Marine Police and the Virginia Office of the State Inspector General. These agencies worked together to identify and prosecute individuals who had fraudulently claimed unemployment compensation.
The Virginia Employment Commission sought the assistance of Attorney General Miyares in March 2022 to prosecute these fraudulent claims. Since then, the Attorney General's office has been diligently working to bring these cases to justice. Due to the ongoing nature of the cases, the Office of the Attorney General has declined to provide further comments at this time.
The Attorney General's efforts to combat unemployment compensation fraud are crucial in restoring trust in the system and ensuring that the funds are available to support those who truly need it. By holding these bad actors accountable, the Attorney General's office is sending a clear message that fraudulent activities will not be tolerated.
As this investigation continues, the collaboration between various agencies demonstrates the commitment to protecting the integrity of the unemployment system in Virginia. The Attorney General's office, along with the Virginia Employment Commission, the Virginia Marine Police, and the Virginia Office of the State Inspector General, remain dedicated to identifying and prosecuting individuals who attempt to defraud the system.
The Commonwealth of Virginia encourages anyone with information regarding unemployment compensation fraud to come forward and report it to the appropriate authorities. In the pursuit of justice, the Attorney General's office remains committed to ensuring that Virginians receive the support they need during challenging times.
To find out more, go to this link: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2643-november-15-2023-attorney-general-miyares-secures-six-indictments-of-unemployment-compensation-fraud