April Rienstra, Unemployment Fraud, Michigan 2023

A Center Line woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in a massive unemployment benefits scheme that defrauded the state of Michigan out of over $300,000.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, April Rienstra, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Bernard A. Friedman on [no date given] for her conviction on one count of wire fraud. Rienstra pleaded guilty in November 2022 to the charge.

The scheme, which took place between April 2020 and May 2021, involved Rienstra submitting false applications for pandemic unemployment benefits on behalf of herself and others. Those who paid her a fee were able to receive the benefits, which ultimately resulted in losses of over $300,000 to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (MUIA).

Rienstra was ordered to pay $318,760 in restitution in addition to serving her 18-month prison sentence.

“Enhanced assistance for unemployed workers was a key lifeline for many of our district’s citizens during the pandemic. Unfortunately, those enhanced benefits attracted criminals seeking to exploit the system and enrich themselves at the public’s expense,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “Our office will remain vigilant in our pursuit of those who cheat the government and their fellow citizens.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyse Wu and was the result of a joint investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

Rienstra’s scheme is just one of many cases of unemployment benefits fraud that have been uncovered in recent years. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that over $26 billion in unemployment benefits were paid out in error due to fraud.

In a statement, Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, said, “April Rienstra defrauded the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency of more than $300,000 by filing multiple fraudulent unemployment insurance claims that she was not entitled to. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and state workforce agencies to protect the integrity of unemployment insurance benefit programs.”

Rienstra’s case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting government programs from those who seek to exploit them for personal gain.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/center-line-resident-sentenced-unemployment-fraud-scheme