Show Unemployment claims fraud warning given give William J. J Kremin Jr manager of the Vernal Employment Security office today issued an appeal to the themore themore themore more than individuals currently filing claims for unemployment Insurance benefits in the Vernal area to tofile tofile tofile file their claims accurately Most individuals claiming unemployment benefits are honest he said but there are a afew afew afew few who try to take advantage of the system Willful misrepresentation made to obtain unearned unemployment benefits is fraud and when detected carries some very severe penalties Mr Kremin said SINCE TilE THE first of the year the department has referred 13 cases to various county attorneys for prosecution cases wherein individuals have made false statements when claiming unemployment insurance benefits So far seven individuals have been found guilty and have received fines ranging to and jail sentences of up to 90 days Three of the convictions for dishonesty I in claiming unemployment insurance benefits occurred in Uintah County where two men and a a woman pled guilty before Justice of the Peace Lloyd Eaton at Vernal Angell L. L Britt and Norman Lyle Britt brothers P P. P 0 O. Box Vernal and Kathy Hatch Thunderbird Trailer Park Vernal were each fined and sentenced to serve 90 days in jail ALL THREE were placed on probation for six months and ordered to repay the full amount of the benefits improperly received Angell Britt was ordered to repay 1566 Norman Britt was directed to make full restitution in the amount of 1131 and Mrs Hatch was ordered to repay the amount of J J. J P P. P Eaton suspended of each of the defendent's defendants fines and suspended 85 days of the jail sentences given the two men and 87 days of Mrs Hatch's Hatchs Hatchs Hatch's Hatchs Hatch's Hat Hat- ch's sentence In pronouncing the sentences of the three J. J p P. P Eaton issued the following statement I treat all dents who f or guilty who plead d' d guilty the same commensurate with the seriousness of the crime I show no favoritism TilE THE MOST common type of fraud Mr Kremin said is the failure of claimants to report work and earnings while receiving unemployment benefits We are coming into the season when the incidence of this type of dishonest claim filing is the grea greatest tes t. t As seasonal workers return to work the temptation is there to ask for an additional benefit check or two after going on a payroll Dont do it is the counsel from Underlying Utah's fraud control program is recognition that most people are honest and wish to file an honest claim The emphasis the manager notes is on on prevention IF AN individual fraudulently files a claim for unemployment insurance after having received the departments department's orientation and received detailed instructions as to his rights and responsibilities he does so willfully and intentionally Inthe in inthe inthe the managers manager's opinion The department uses a variety of techniques to detect dishonest claimants Employers across the state are contacted to solicit their cooperation and assistance in controlling problems associated with administering the unemployment insurance program The department asks employers to report individuals who might be filing claims and working at the same time who refuse offers of employment who fail to properly present themselves and apply for work and other Infractions which can be the occasion for disqualifying claimants from receiving further benefits TilE THE MANAGERS MANAGER'S report underscores the role of the unemployment Insurance program which has been the main bulwark again loss of income due to involuntary unemployment since 1937 when it was enacted into law by Congress Unemployment insurance dollars are high velocity dollars Mr Kremin said they go back immediately into the local economies across the state to meet workers' workers non non- deferrable expenses such as food and shelter until they can canI I get back to work This immediate transfusion of dollars Into the purchasing pipeline works as a hedge against the mushroom effect of loss of purchasing power which would otherwise follow on the heels of an economic turndown DURING JANUARY and February this year more than million were paid in unemployment benefits in Utah compared to 74 million for the same Iw two months a year ago Mr Kremin said the department will continue through positive action and andl l' l educational and lr informational programs to do everything possible to deter individuals from filing fraudulent claims But the effort to seek out the few who cant can't resist the temptation to cheat on the fund will be aggressive and unrelenting |