More than $3M in alleged COVID unemployment fraud uncovered

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(The Center Square) – Ohio’s inspector general says he has uncovered more than $3 million in suspected unemployment benefits fraud dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic period.

In 2024, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services referred an allegation of wrongdoing to the state Inspector General’s Office, involving a subcontractor with TEKsystems, Ferris Johnson, Inspector General Randall Meyer said in a news release.

“During the investigation, investigators determined Johnson manipulated identity verification and program eligibility issues to improperly release previously denied Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits to ineligible claimants,” according to the release.

Additionally, “investigators discovered numerous connections between Johnson and Tosha Williams who was also a TEKsystems subcontractor,” Meyer said. “An audit trail review was performed of Williams’ actions and investigators determined that she, too, manipulated and improperly reconciled eligibility issues on claims without obtaining the required documentation.”

The investigation uncovered that the actions of Johnson, Williams and another TEK Systems subcontractors led to the “improper release” of $3.28 million in unemployment benefit funds.

“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased unemployment of millions of Americans, Congress passed various programs to address the crisis, including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program,” Meyer said. “The PUA program expanded and loosened eligibility unemployment requirements for recipients. Consequently, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the agency responsible for distributing PUA benefits in Ohio, received an unprecedented number of unemployment compensation claims.”

The increase in claims required the state to hire temporary contract workers to process the extra load, according to the state.

State agencies also established an investigative group to address “rampant fraud,” according to Meyer.

“Investigators identified two co-conspirators, Toya Brown, and Malaysia Brown,” Meyer said. “Investigators discovered Williams would request and receive electronic payment kickbacks via Cash App in exchange for releasing improper claims referred to by Toya and Malaysia Brown.”

Meyer is referring these reports of investigation to the Franklin County prosecuting attorney and the Ohio Auditor of State for consideration.