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Tamara Fulmer, 47, Pleads Guilty to Stealing $567K in Unemployment Benefits
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Seaside, Oregon, woman pleaded guilty today to stealing more than $567,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits from the Oregon Employment Department.
Tamara Fulmer, 47, pleaded guilty today to one count of Theft of Government Benefits. According to court documents, between May 2020 and October 2021, Fulmer used the personal information of 27 individuals to fraudulently apply for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits (UI benefits).
Fulmer deposited at least 236 UI checks totaling $68,773 into her own personal account and cashed many of the UI checks at a gas station in Seaside without the applicant’s knowledge or permission. OED paid Fulmer an additional $13,353 after she submitted her own fraudulent UI application where she falsely claimed she had not applied for or received disability despite receiving disability payments since 2004.
As part of the plea agreement, Fulmer has agreed to forfeit the proceeds from her criminal activity and pay $581,283 in restitution as recommended by the government. Fulmer faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Meredith D.M. Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Tamara Fulmer is set to be sentenced on February 18, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of reporting any allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19. Anyone with information can report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Tamara Fulmer’s guilty plea is a significant blow to those who would seek to exploit the system for personal gain. The Oregon Employment Department will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who commit fraud are held accountable. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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