⏱ 2 min read
A former US Department of Labor employee, Mo Yuong Kang, has pleaded guilty to scamming the system for over $40,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits. Kang, who worked as an Industrial Hygienist with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Boston, Massachusetts, submitted a false application for benefits in April 2020, claiming he was self-employed and unable to work due to COVID-19. However, at the time, Kang was a full-time employee earning over $85,000 annually.
Kang’s scheme involved submitting weekly certifications to the Division of Unemployment Assistance, claiming he did not work and did not receive any income during those periods. As a result, he received $45,868 in benefits to which he was not entitled. The indictment was handed down in August 2025, and Kang has now pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud.
The US Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case, which was announced by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. Kang’s sentencing is scheduled for August 11, 2026, and he faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat pandemic-related fraud and protect the integrity of unemployment benefit programs. Kang’s guilty plea serves as a reminder that those who engage in such schemes will be held accountable for their actions.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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