Show State unit cracks down on un unemployment ent fr fraud u Willful misrepresentation made to obtain unearned unemployment unemployment unemployment benefits is fraud and when detected carries some very severe penalties accordIng accordIng according accord- accord Ing to Curtis B. B Harding administrator ad administrator administrator ad- ad of the Employment Security Some of this punishment is administered by the courts but the Department of Employment Security can also take punitive punitive- measures independent of co court t action through authority given to it by the law which created the department Mr Hard Harding ng stated He warned Sanpete residents that there are penalties for this fraud A court can Impose a ac jail jall sentence up to 60 days It can also levy a fine of Mr Harding pointed out that between January and August Augustof of 1971 the Department of Employment Employment Employment Em Em- Security referred 61 Ceases cases cases to county attorneys for fraud prosecution As a result Individuals charged with fraud were either convicted or pleaded guilty in 60 of the 61 cases Fines ranged from 25 to Some individuals served jail jall sentences others were placed on probation pending pending pending pend pend- ing payment of the fines and repayment to the Department of Unemployment Benefits obtained obtained ob obtained ob- ob by fraud What can Employment Security ity do In addition to seeking court action It can disqualify a chiseler for one full year It can continue the disqualification disqualification cation beyond a year or until all unemployment benefits obtained ob obtained obtained ob- ob through misrepresentation tion have been fully repaid to the fund which Is maintained for legitimate claimants The Department of Employ- Employ ment menu Security has a special s special c i at policing unit st staffed ed by professionals pro pro- professionals whose time full is spent hunting down chiselers and would-be would chiselers Backing BackIng Backing Back- Back Ing up this activity is an educational educational educational edu edu- program based on a well-founded well conviction that most people want to do the right thing and will do it if told how and why By means of of printed materials ma ma- materials radio and tel television the general public has some knowledge of its stake in Utah's Employment Security Program But when a worker finds himself himself himself him him- self without a a Job and makes application for unemployment benefits he Jie gets the full treat treat- ment V First he registers for wor worThen Then he files hid hi initial claims claims for 1 benefits He is told of his obligations and the for continued eligibility He r r r i a pamphlet explaining these same things And final J each claimant watches a a hal ha haIl l hour movie which step by step explains the obligations of the claimant and nd the obligations of E Employment Security Mr Harding said that while the Departments Department's fraud frau prevention prevention prevention pre pre- program will continue to be positive and educational no effort will be spared In seeking out those of a sma small 1 minority who cant can't resist the temptation to chisel on the fund maintained for the benefit of those Jobless workers who meet legal requirements for collecting unemployment bene bene- fits |