Topline:
L.A. County’s district attorney’s office announced charges against 13 county employees for felony grand theft for allegedly stealing $437,383 in state unemployment benefits between 2020 and 2023.
What we know: While working for the county, the DA’s office alleges that the employees fraudulently filed for unemployment, claiming to earn less than $600 a week. The employees are tied to seven different county agencies, including the sheriff’s department and the departments of health services, child support services and others.
Officials say: “When a civil servant steals from the government, that trust is broken,” District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement Wednesday. “Today, we are putting all government employees on notice: If you steal from taxpayers, you will be prosecuted.”
What’s their punishment if found guilty? If convicted, the 13 defendants could be looking at a maximum of three years in state prison.
Pandemic-era unemployment fraud: The Auditor-Controller’s Office estimates that the county has lost over $3.75 million due to pandemic unemployment insurance fraud either committed by county employees or by people pretending to be county employees, according to the district attorney’s office.
What’s next: Hearing dates for some of the workers are scattered throughout November and into early next year.