State Job and Family Services worker indicted in fraud and bribery case
An Ohio Job and Family Services worker was indicted Wednesday. Prosecutors say she processed 41 illegal pandemic unemployment claims and got kickbacks from recipients.
Donesha Shepard, 30, of Westwood is charged with theft, tampering with records, bribery and telecommunication fraud. All of the charges are felonies.
Another three people, Nia Beebe of West End, Shaqunia Benion of West Price Hill and Jervonta Rowland of Springdale, were charged with theft, telecommunications fraud and bribery.
The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office said Shepard worked as an intermittent customer service representative processing pandemic unemployment assistance funds.
Prosecutors say Shepard's three co-defendants received money from the illegal claims and then paid Shepard.
According to the indictment, the scheme occurred between May and September of 2021 and cost Ohio Jobs and Family Services between $150,000 and $750,000.
Warrants have been issued for Shepard, Beebe, Benion and Rowland. Court and jail records indicate that no one in the group has been arrested.
Ohio Job and Family Services Director Matt Damschroder issued a statement Friday:
"We are pleased with news of the indictment of four individuals in conjunction with fraud in the pandemic unemployment assistance program. This is not a victimless crime. These individuals allegedly stole from taxpayers. Fraud schemes also harmed legitimate unemployment claimants who were hurting during the pandemic by making it harder to receive needed benefits in a timely fashion. When we discovered that individuals like these may have been illegally abusing their access to our systems, we took immediate action to stop it and work with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute it. We thank all those agencies who helped bring this about and will continue working to ensure more criminals are brought to justice."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: State Job and Family Services worker indicted in fraud and bribery case
