The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) receives wage reports and new hire data from Hoosier employers documenting who is employed and receiving compensation. The agency’s unemployment insurance fraud investigation taskforce examines claims of individuals who intentionally provide false, misreported or unreported information in order to fraudulently claim benefits. As a result of the taskforce’s investigations, local courts recently found these individuals guilty of unemployment insurance fraud:
54 year old Adam Hale Sr., of Gary was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to repay DWD $8,431.25 for the benefits he fraudulently collected. Click here to view Hale’s booking photo.
48 year old Ad Winston, of Michigan City was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to repay DWD $18,312 for the benefits he fraudulently collected.
Since 2013, Indiana courts have ordered fraudsters to repay millions in restitution to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. “Combatting fraud preserves employer-paid monies in the trust fund for those individuals whom are truly in need of unemployment insurance benefits,” said Regina Ashley, DWD, Chief Unemployment Insurance and Workforce Solutions Officer.