E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe proof was in the paychecks: After a review of city records, the mayor of Washington, D.C., has fired 61 people for collecting jobless benefits while also working for the city.
The 61 were among 92 employees suspended last February, when the investigation was first announced.
"We’re not going to tolerate this kind of activity in the government," the Washington Post quoted Pedro Ribeiro, spokesman for Mayor Vincent Gray, as saying Tuesday.
The checks were up to $20,000 per worker since 2009 and totaled about $800,000, the Post reported, citing city officials.
The city expects to fire more employees, the Post added, while three were found to have been unaware that they were getting the jobless benefits. Another returned to work after repaying the money.
The city has said it would refer the names of employees found to have defrauded the city to the U.S. attorney for prosecution.
It also hired an outside auditor to review its jobless program.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
Leave a Comment:
This is only a very small fraction of people scamming the US taxpayers by claiming unemployment while working! President Romney needs to shut off the wasteful spending as soon as he get in the White House!
Perpetual unemployment benefits is bankrupting this country along with medicaid and welfare checks. Obamacare will surely tip our nation into failure!
This is an indication of a system failure to verify these applicants claims by checking with their previous employer as to why they were no longer employed. The Mayor ought be checking out the unemployment agency process or someone at the Agency who might be in cahoots with these people.
I am sure thier unions will fight this!!
Agree Rontron..has to be someone in the unemployment office passing these people as unemployed, has to be a fake social security number used... not their real one since it making earnings with their DC job of course.
American GREED is getting worst everyday! Time for prison..no more slap on the wrist.
That lady who hit a million in a lottery and collected food stamps also should have her attorney delay her trial..wait and see what happens to these 61 crooks first since this happen a year ago.
This is absurd that it went on for so long. Here in CA they are far more vigilant about checking employment records. If the state gets income tax withholding from an employer on a social security number that is also showing up in unemployment rolls it automatically triggers an inquiry. Why doesn't the same thing happen in DC. These employees should be permanently barred from working for the government ever again and have their bank accounts and, if necessary, property seized to repay the amounts they fraudulently collected. They should also be required to pay interest on the money to compensate for the interest the government had to pay on the money that was borrowed by the treasury to pay the benefits to start with. The three people who claimed they did not know they were getting unemployment benefits are a flat out liars. Where did they think that extra money was coming, the tooth fairy!!! Every one of these people needs to do serious prison time for fraud. The person who was allowed to return to work after repaying the fraudulently obtained benefits needs to fired and prosecuted as well. A slap on the wrist and having to repay the funds is not sufficient to discourage others from trying this same scam. Serious prison time is needed to clearly demonstrate that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
No, don't tell me that Washington, D.C. has CORRUPT folks working for the "city".
Sheeesh, guess the slime from the Congressional Halls and government agencies slithered across I-495, after all, where could we find some folks who are committing FRAUD by NOT PAYING THEIR BACK IRS TAXES in the beltway and are getting a FREE PASS from the IRS and DOJ ?
Yep.....you guessed it.....HUNDREDS of our "elite" elected Congressional Representatives and HUNDREDS of government workers.
Wow here I am unemployed with no unemployment benefits left and spending my day looking for a job and trying to figure out if I will be able to eat tomorrow and these @!$%#s are collecting pay and unemployment benefits why should I bother to keep trying??????????????????
End this nanny state.. Taking money from workers to give it to others is so stupid and unAmerican in our complete history.. This last 70 or so years has been a ripp off that has slowly gotten worse and if we don't end it for good its only going to get worse for our future generations of Americans. The time is ripe for change. Ron Paul 2012 to restore our Liberty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYFWOyCevYA
Good. Maybe voters will get angry enough to fire all the rest of the boobs in DC come November.
No! Don't fire them! Then they will collect unemployment or welfare. Keep them on the job, garnish their paychecks to pay back the money they stole, slap big fines on them, take away their benifits and their pensions. If they try to quit throw them in jail. That does sound better jsmith President Romney.
(being fired for stealing disqualifies one from collecting unemployment.) they would have to go steal from someone else to pay their bills.
Hopefully they cant collect unemployment. I heard the garbage dump is hiring tho
End this nanny state.. Taking money from workers to give it to others is so stupid and unAmerican in our complete history.. This last 70 or so years has been a ripp off that has slowly gotten worse and if we don't end it for good its only going to get worse for our future generations of Americans. The time is ripe for change. Ron Paul 2012 to restore our Liberty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYFWOyCevYA
How does somebody not know they are receiving jobless benefits? Isn't there some sort of periodic self reporting of a job search?
Looking forward to see them on the Chain Gang on my nicely tidy road ride!
The unions will fight this the whole way.
Go ahead you commie union people, collapse me show America your true commie colors.
Number one stopping free speech.
Government, corruption- corruption, government different sides of the same coin. Anyone sucking on the government teat is already a thief, why is anyone surprised?
One thing you can rely on is that most of the money that comes to any government will never be spent as it was intended. Fraud, theft, misappropriation, a hundred other ways most of it will wind up in someones pocket. If the press reported all of it, there would be no room for anything else.
FIRED? Any OTHER person would be thrown in prison for fraud!! Good old America, where the rules don't apply to the elite and the government. Complete bull@!$%#.
"Another returned to work after repaying the money." Really!? If you steal just save it and see if you get caught? If you do- JUST REPAY IT? and we hire you back?!!
This kind of thinking is what entices criminals to take advantage of you in the first place.
wow- we are really in so much trouble.
(on the other hand- if they would just legalize this sort of thing- the problem would just go away. right?)
I ran an electrical business for over 20 years. I have been ripped off many times. Those I caught (4 I can think of off hand) that is exactly what I did. They kept their jobs, paid it back, made it right, and I never needed the cops or the courts to be involved. They were thieves before I new them, they aren't now. Three of them worked with me until I retired and were among my most trusted employees. majo I am drawing on my experience and what I know, I suspect you are just blowing smoke up your own a--.
wrong. I have managed businesses for many years. What I have learned is that thieves sometimes change- but not always. It may have worked out for you- or you were to busy smoking your own to know they were stealing from you. From MY experience; I have helped many and 75% just wanted more. Stealing is a criminal offense. It is a fire-able offense. What was the message you were sending to those who did not steal- by not firing them? Or were thieves the only ones that would work for you.
(Personally i think you story is BS just to show us how good you are.)
Yes I can understand why someone would want to steal, repeatedly, from you.
no Bob - remember the story you told. they all stole from you. good grief....
I was thinking the same thing. Even more bizarre is that they were found by the gov to be unaware of receiving. Huh ???
rbk5555
That is the problem with today's journalists...the majority of them fail to ask the tough questions! Mike Wallace was never afraid to ask the tough questions. I wonder if today's journalists even spend any time preparing for the stories that they cover. Perhaps, it is all about sticking some pretty face out there with a tape recorder so they don't forget what they are covering. It's all about the initial sensationalism without substance.
To me, this would have been an obvious question. Now, I have questions for the investigators.
How does one not know that you are receiving unemployment benefits?
That was my first thought.. how can you be "Unaware" that you receiving unempl. benefits... and the second thought was shock that you could be a dishonest thief, repay the $$ and get your job back like nothing ever happened. When you should be sitting in jail .
I know someone, knew it after the fact or I would have reported it, that drew unemployment for 12 years under different SS#s other than his own. He is dead now.
why would you have reported him. Why would not just simply ask him to stop and pay it back/ reporting him sounds so harsh....
bs meter is crashing....
The BS meter is crashing on you....
To the OP (who had a legit post and question) ...
I'm guessing it MIGHT have been a stolen identity on those guys. Someone had their SS# and was drawing against it, but THEY weren't receiving the money.
As to BobW and Mojo -- you sound like little kids on the playground! Ridiculous!
You are right Beth.
Sorrry Bob. (but i would still fire you if you stole from me)
When I was on unemployment, I had to make a report via the internet or the telephone every two weeks in order to keep getting the money added to the credit card issued by the unemployment office. Guess different areas do things differently.
EVERYONE in EVERY STATE who receives unemployment must certify with their signature every one to two weeks that they are eligible to receive their next check. You are asked under perjury of law that you are not working. Although most States won't prosecute you if you pay back the money. So many people do it that the jails would be overflowing if they put people in jail.
Direct deposits of the checks. Some people don't balance their checking accounts.
This does not surprise me considering that the Mayor and all the other Councilmen/women as crooks themselves. I love watching the local news here in dc so I can see how each council member turns on each other and tries to throw each other under the bus. Hell the dumb asses that live there keep voting these clowns into office because most of those who are voting are in those politicians back pockets i.e. scamming unemployment!!!!
Let's hear the names.C'mon you know
Were they arrested for theft? NO, I wonder why?
Maybe you might consider READING ALL of the article before commenting. Look near the end and you'll find this sentence.
"The city has said it would refer the names of employees found to have defrauded the city to the U.S. attorney for prosecution."
Outside auditor will bill the district for its "consulting services" and eat away another 100K easily for a 6 to 9 month project. This is probably a simple cross check verification fix (query) using Access database or Oracle database. The consultants / auditors will make a complicated powerpoint presentation and get the project (or already did) and milk another 100k.
"The city has said it would refer the names of employees found to have defrauded the city to the U.S. attorney for prosecution."
They have to give the names to the US Attorney... they get like 24-26 weeks from the city funds for unemployment..after that they get federal funds (around another 72 weeks)..that's also stealing from the US government. Two criminal charges so far (receiving city and federal funds illegally)...maybe three with forgery.
We need more government so we can set up an agency to keep tabs on the rest of the government to make sure everyone is behaving as they should.
Oh, wait. That's the GSA.
LOL..yup... and they are worst then most.
I wonder how many of these guys will scream that they were improperly fired? Any bet someone files a suit?
The goods news out of this mess is..there is 61 employment openings in DC as a public worker (great perks they get).
YAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaayyyyy!!!! Job Openings!
Don't say it too loud or Obama will claim credit for creating those 61 job openings.
Mr. Obama should claim credit for this boost in jobs.
should they go to jail?
Absolutely. That's why they're turning the info over to the feds for prosecution.
Yep, for fraud...if they're found guilty. These six sentence stories at the crack of an investigation are pretty lite on actual details. But if they stole, yes they should go to jail. If not for their own stupidity...then as a warning to others.
3 Unaware of getting UE benefits. Gee I think I would notice an extra 20,000 in my account, how about you guys?
Pieces of @!$%#...
Do you really think they got a freaking lump sum? The amounts were UP to $20K but $800K over 61 workers is only about $300-$400 a month average over 3 years. Depending on what they make now (and their spouse makes) that much could easily be overlooked especially if the direct deposit identification doesn't say something like 'unemployment compensation'.
Not everyone balances their checking accounts every month.
What's with the $800,000 figure? GSA spent $800,000 on a Las Vegas party. DC workers collected $800,000 in unemployment benefits. Obama made $800,000 last year. And only paid 20% tax if I may add, less than his secretary.
Because he gave $170,000 to charity, Jethro.
I see. So he got his accountant to take every possible deduction and loopholes to minimize his taxes to avoid paying his fair share. Did he park his yacht in Rhode Island like Kerry?
What's a jethro?
Aw come on you guys. How many times have we heard Obama claim he wants to pay more in taxes, but just can't find the right moment to do it because the Republicans are preventing him from do it.
After all, its the Republicans fault he never proposed his tax reform when he had democratic control of congress and could of passed it as easily as his Obamacare. They must have blackmailed him into silence for those two years.
Look at the facts, he didn't propose it until the Republicans took control of the House and he knew he couldn't get it passed.
So, Obama here is your chance to lead by example. Why not donate the difference between what you paid and what you think you should pay under your tax reform. Since your've been talking and promising your tax reform since your first campaign, then you should do this for all 3 full years you've been in office. With a worth of $10 million you certainly can afford to do it.
washington at it's best...where are all the checks when you collect unemployment?? a simple irs search would have seen that they were working..
Hint: City or Government insider working with the crooks and probably got a kick back.
First it was the GSA spending taxpayer money on their parties, then it's Secret Service and their inability to keep it in their pants while on a work-related trip, then it's that Illinois woman who stole millions of dollars of government funds to pay for horse trailers, and now this. For the love of God, is there anyone in our country's government in any level that is not completely greedy, corrupt, or just plain disgusting?
This is theft...they belong in prison. Let them work it off.
Sigh
As long as government, city or national, workers are involved with revenue - there will always be criminal activity of people stealing tax dollars...
Illinois financial chief embessled $30 mil today... and this was a small town in Illinois !!!
Where is the accountability as to where our dollars are? How could it be unnoticed as missing...
The day before 9/11, Rumfeld reported that $2.4 trillion (TRILLION!) dollars was not accounted for in the Defense budget... an investigation was supposed to be started... BUT on 9/11 the area of the Pentagon that was hit by a supposed airplane was the Defense finance department. All paperwork was lost... very convenient I would say... what are the odds of that - demolishing the only part of the building that held those financial records? Didn't they have off-site computer/tape backups? That ended any investigation that was supposed to find where those trillions of dollars went... Trillions! How could that be trivial not to further any investigation... That is our tax money...
Funny that the press (TV nor the newspapers) never questioned anything about this after 9/11... and it has been almost 10 years later... Seemed that someone was hiding something and wanted to have the evidence wiped out - it worked...
Well, now that you've said "Illinois" it makes sense.
Hard to believe "I was getting checks sent to me and I didn't know it!"
Greed is rampant in this country on all levels. What happened to integrity and honesty?
You ask, "what happened to integrity and honesty"?
They went the same place as morality and virtue !!
Put them in jail and make them work in the jail, take all their wages and take whatever they family contributes to their candy fund. This is about as low as you can get. Most American's struggle everyday to feed their families when they are on unemployment or even working but these jerks are getting both? GO TO JAIL< DIRECTLY TO JAIL AND YOU ALREADY COLLECTED FOR GOING BY GO SO WE ARE TAKING THAT.
Another example of the degeneration in America shown by those who have no shame for their unethical and criminal beliefs.
And since they already collected and commited fraud, they are not elgible for unemployment
Moody, I think it died with President Lincoln. I haven't heard of anyone else in Government since that sincerely cared about people and didn't try to steal from it.
WTF is happening to this country?
The government cancer has grown to the size able to take-over the body. It's not WTF, it's WAF'ed.