Samantha Jenkins, Unemployment Fraud, New Jersey 2024

A New Jersey woman has been charged with five counts of wire fraud for allegedly obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment funds while working for the United States Postal Service. According to the indictment, Samantha Jenkins, 45, of North Plainfield, New Jersey, filed weekly certifications with the New Jersey Department of Labor claiming she was not working, and was therefore eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

However, in reality, Jenkins worked for the USPS as a window/mail clerk. As a result, she received tens of thousands of dollars in employment benefits she was not entitled to. During the relevant period, Jenkins’s salary from the USPS and her unemployment benefits were deposited into one of her bank accounts. For 13 months, Jenkins used that bank account to receive both her salary from the USPS and unemployment benefits from the NJDOL. Oftentimes, deposits from both entities were made just days apart from one another.

Jenkins had her arraignment yesterday in Trenton before United States Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn. Each charge of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

Samantha Jenkins, a 45-year-old resident of North Plainfield, New Jersey, had her arraignment yesterday in Trenton, New Jersey, on May 8, 2024. She was charged by indictment with five counts of wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment funds while working for the United States Postal Service.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel for Samantha Jenkins is Saverio Viggiano, Esq., of Newark, New Jersey. The investigation was conducted by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; special agents with the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modofferi; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito.

The case is a stark reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity in the workplace. Jenkins’s alleged actions not only deprived the state of funds but also undermined the trust of her colleagues and the public.

The New Jersey woman is currently in a precarious situation, facing charges of wire fraud and the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. If convicted, Jenkins could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

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