“The senator’s office is aware that an individual used the senator’s name — along with multiple others — to file fraudulent unemployment claims,” said Tom Mentzer, a spokesman for the senator. The benefits were from Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a federally funded program authorized by the CARES Act to help gig workers, independent contractors and others. AdvertisementSubsequently, the California EDD received a claim from Gervais in her own name, alleging that her hours as a shelf stocker at Goodwill Industries had been cut. She was arrested after investigators alleged she conspired with her boyfriend, a prisoner serving a term of 94 years to life at California State Prison, Sacramento, for murder. AdvertisementScott, the U.S. attorney, said that other cases are being investigated, and that federal, state and local agencies are working together on a single task force to streamline those efforts.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 17, 2020 23:40 UTC