News Summary
Forrest Young Putnam, a South Carolina resident, faces charges of forgery related to fraudulent unemployment claims linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Allegedly receiving $10,000 in benefits he was not entitled to, his case forms part of a broader scheme where 29 defendants have pleaded guilty for similar fraudulent activities, highlighting vulnerabilities in the unemployment assistance program and the collaborative efforts needed to combat such fraud.
South Carolina Man Arrested for COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud
Forrest Young Putnam, a 34-year-old resident of Youngs Island, South Carolina, has been arrested on charges of forgery and other offenses related to fraudulent claims for disaster unemployment assistance linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an arrest warrant, Putnam allegedly misled the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce by claiming that he had been laid off from work due to pandemic-related fears. This false reporting led to Putnam receiving a total of $10,000 in unemployment benefits he was not entitled to.
Details of the Fraudulent Claim
Investigations revealed that Putnam stated his workplace had closed due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the owner of the establishment contradicted these claims, asserting that Putnam was neither fired nor laid off and had not requested any leave of absence. The owner’s account confirmed that the business continued to operate and was not forced to shut down during the pandemic. This discrepancy highlights the significant extent to which Putnam allegedly manipulated facts to benefit from the government assistance program designed to help those genuinely affected by the pandemic.
A Broader Scheme Involving Multiple Defendants
Putnam’s case is part of a larger scheme where a total of 29 out of 31 defendants have pleaded guilty to similar fraudulent activities aimed at obtaining COVID-19 unemployment benefits. This extensive five-year investigation has uncovered a network of inmates from the South Carolina Department of Corrections collaborating with individuals outside the prison. Together, they orchestrated a scheme that resulted in nearly $5 million in losses to the United States government.
Methodology of the Fraudulent Activity
Inmates reportedly gathered sensitive personal information, including social security numbers and birth dates, from fellow inmates and used this information to submit fraudulent unemployment applications across multiple states, including South Carolina, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, Missouri, Arizona, and California. While some inmates voluntarily provided their details in exchange for a share of the benefits, others were unsuspecting victims of the scams. In addition, information was reportedly extracted from individuals outside the prison system through various extortion tactics.
Exploitation and Financial Returns
To further exploit victims, inmates posed as law enforcement officers and solicited compromising photos, utilizing contraband phones for communication. Co-conspirators on the outside received government checks and prepaid Visa debit cards, which they subsequently funneled back to the incarcerated individuals involved in the fraudulent operations.
Consequences for Defendants
The defendants implicated in this extensive scheme face severe penalties, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, in addition to financial fines and restitution. To date, 14 of the 29 convicted defendants have already been sentenced, while others await their respective terms in court. The investigation has also led to charges against Kimberly Harris, a former employee of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, for her involvement in a similar unemployment assistance scam, where she unlawfully obtained $10,000. One defendant, Jessica Ann Howell, is reported to have passed away, while another, Christine Hankins, remains at large as a fugitive.
Conclusion
Putnam’s arrest and the unraveling of this larger fraudulent scheme serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within government assistance programs during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The collaborative efforts between officials and law enforcement continue to address and mitigate such fraudulent activities to protect taxpayer funds and support the citizens genuinely in need of assistance.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- WYFF4 News
- WBTW News
- ABC News 4
- WLTX News
- WACH News
- Wikipedia: Fraud
- Google Search: COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud
- Google Scholar: COVID-19 Fraud
- Encyclopedia Britannica: COVID-19
- Google News: COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits Fraud
