Industry News
Missouri Department of Labor aggressively pursues fraud cases
November 8, 2005
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations recently announced that unemployment insurance fraud referrals since January 2005 have resulted in restitution of $23,910.12.
Three cases led to the convictions of individuals who were each sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amounts of $10,559.12, $7,663 and $5,688. In addition, six individuals were indicted for fraud after the Department's Division of Employment Security investigated their cases. The individuals were charged with stealing amounts ranging between $5,000 and $10,000.
The Division of Employment Security actively pursues criminal prosecution of individuals who file fraudulent claims. 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 UI benefits. Workers must also have worked in covered employment and earned certain qualifying wages to be entitled to benefits.