Joshua Lambert, Unemployment Benefit Fraud, West Virginia 2024
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County man has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits while in state and federal custody.
Joshua Lambert, 36, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to steal public money, property or records.
Lambert admitted that he fraudulently obtained more than $10,616 in unemployment benefits, including COVID-19 supplementary funds, while in state and federal custody.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Lambert had been receiving legitimate unemployment benefits from June 2020 until on or about September 28, 2020, when he was incarcerated on state and federal charges.
Lambert admitted that he conspired with his mother to receive unemployment benefits fraudulently while he was incarcerated. From her residence in St. Albans, Lambert’s mother accessed the WorkForce West Virginia website for 32 consecutive weeks and falsely certified that Lambert was entitled to unemployment benefits.
Lambert was released from incarceration on or about April 8, 2024. Lambert admitted that he fraudulently applied for and received more than $10,616 in unemployment compensation benefits from at least September 2020 through at least May 2022.
Lambert faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Lambert also owes $10,616 in restitution.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2024.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided for a temporary emergency increase in unemployment compensation benefits, referred to as the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC). Although these benefits were administered by the states, they were funded in part by the federal government.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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