News from June 2023


Illinois contractor ignored city's safety warnings about deadly trench hazards, federal inspectors cite five willful, serious violations, propose $77K in penalties

News Release: WATERLOO, IL ‒ A Breese contractor who ignored a city engineer's repeated verbal and written instructions to use trench cave-in protection faces penalties after federal workplace safety inspectors found the employer failed to protect workers installing storm sewer lines from potentially deadly trench cave-ins on a least five occasions.



@EdWorkforceCmte To Hold Markup on Bills to Improve Health Care Options for Small Businesses and Student Outcomes — Tomorrow at 10:15A.M.

News Release: Tomorrow, at 10:15 a.m., the Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a markup to consider five bills: H. Res. 461, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress disapproves of the use of public elementary and secondary school facilities to provide shelter for aliens not admitted...


US Department of Labor finds Dollar General in West Texas exposing employees to fire hazards, other concerns

News Release: LAMESA, TX - A federal workplace safety inspection at another Dollar General store, this time in Lamesa, found exit routes and walkways blocked and merchandise unsafely stacked, conditions that exposed employees and others to fire hazards and struck-by injuries that have been common cause for violations at the company's stores across the country.


Michigan Man Pleads Guilty in Pandemic Fraud Scheme

A resident of Michigan pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of mail fraud and identity theft, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today


Yonkers Man Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud

– Errol Murray, age 22, of Yonkers, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to defraud the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) by obtaining unemployment insurance benefits under the names of other people, including benefits funded by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Superseding Indictment Charges Maryland Man with Wire Fraud, Identity Theft, and Drug-Related Counts, in Addition to Original Charges for COVID-19 Cares Act Unemployment Benefits Fraud and Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Superseding Indictment Charges Maryland Man with Wire Fraud, Identity Theft, and Drug-Related Counts, in Addition to Original Charges for COVID-19 Cares Act Unemployment Benefits Fraud and Illegal Possession of a Firearm


St. Joseph Woman Pleads Guilty to Using Prison Inmates in Covid Fraud Scheme

– A St. Joseph, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to using the stolen identities of prison inmates to fraudulently obtain federal unemployment benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act


Missouri Couple Sentenced for Unlawfully Obtaining COVID-19 Jobless Benefits

A St. Charles, Missouri husband and wife were each sentenced to five years of federal probation today after unlawfully obtaining $26,917 in unemployment benefits provided for by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program.


Two Georgians indicted for pandemic-related fraud

– A federal grand jury has indicted individuals in two separate cases for fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kenneth Wilkerson was indicted for his fraudulent acquisition of several Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for small businesses as well as his illegal possession of multiple firearms. Jeremy Graves was indicted for filing multiple fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits using victims’ stolen personal identifying information.


Siblings Convicted, Sentenced in Federal Court for COVID Relief Fraud

A Brandon woman was sentenced to two years of probation for theft of unemployment insurance benefits related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and her brother was convicted of conspiring with her to commit wire fraud in obtaining these benefits


Two Defendants Charged in Nationwide Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) Scheme

Two Defendants Charged in Nationwide Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) Scheme


Wayne County Man Charged With Committing $1.5 Million In Covid19 Pandemic Fraud

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Christopher J. Miller, age 35, formerly of Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, was charged in an indictment with 54 combined counts of wire fraud, bank fraud false statements, identity theft, and unlawful monetary transactions.


Pittsburgh Resident Indicted on Violating Embezzlement and Fraud Laws

- A resident of Pittsburgh PA, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating embezzlement and fraud laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.


U.S. Law Enforcement Disrupts Networks Used to Transfer Fraud Proceeds, Taking Over 4,000 Actions in Fifth Campaign

U.S. Law Enforcement Disrupts Networks Used to Transfer Fraud Proceeds, Taking Over 4,000 Actions in Fifth Campaign


Rush City Woman Pleads Guilty to $1.8 Million Scheme Involving Romance Fraud and Federal Pandemic Programs

A Rush City woman has pleaded guilty to mail fraud after participating in multiple schemes that defrauded individuals throughout the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


Orange County Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Using Stolen Identities to Apply for Over $1 Million in COVID Jobless Benefits

An Orange County man was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for fraudulently applying for more than $1.2 million in COVID-19 pandemic unemployment insurance (UI) benefits – and receiving more than $400,000 of the same – by using the stolen identities of two dozen victims.


New Jersey Man Sentenced to 6.75 Years in Prison for Schemes to Steal California Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Economic Injury Disaster Loans

Eric Michael Jaklitsch, 40, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was sentenced today to six years and nine months in prison for two related COVID-19 fraud cases, one case alleging wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in California and the other case alleging wire fraud in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.


Six Individuals Indicted and Arrested for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Fraud and the Misuse of Social Security Numbers

Six Individuals Indicted and Arrested for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Fraud and the Misuse of Social Security Numbers


Seattle man who defrauded relief programs of more than $1 million sentenced to 8+ years in prison

Stole identities of real people, creating chaos and hardship for them and pandemic relief systems