Woman tasked with reviewing Ohio unemployment claims was getting benefits herself

Unemployment fraud hit close to home when an employee working with unemployment claims was receiving benefits at the same time, according to an Ohio Inspector General investigation.

Between December and March, interim employee Angela Calderon received nearly $10,000 working for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services while also receiving $9,650 in unemployment benefits, penalties and interest.

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services hired Calderon in November 2020 as an intermittent employee, starting on Dec. 3. She was assigned to the Marietta Adjudication Center, though most employees worked from home.

On May 21, Calderon attempted to authorize a relative's claim by approving a proof of identification that she submitted from her personal email account. However, the claim was not approved because the relative resigned rather than being fired or laid off.

On May 24, she tried unsuccessfully to reverse the rejected claim. On that same day, Calderon resigned from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

In September, Calderon was indicted on charged with several crimes, including telecommunications fraud and tampering with records in Lucas County.

Benefits fraud: Ohio's unemployment fraud, overpayments tops $2.1 billion

As a result of the Ohio Inspector General's investigation, the office recommended that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services check if any current employees are also receiving benefits.

Between March 2020 and February 2021, $475 million was paid in unemployment fraud and another $3.3 billion was doled out in overpayments, according to a recent audit from Republican Keith Faber.

Benefits fraud: New report reveals why Ohio's unemployment benefits system saw fraud amid COVID-19

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Job and Family Services employee got unemployment benefits