We have discussed how the various law enforcement agencies seem to follow the issues of the day when making priorities out of certain crimes. While violent crimes are normally always priorities, when it comes to theft or white collar crimes, different crimes seem to grab the attention of the police at different times. When there is a huge story about securities fraud in the news, then those cases seem to pop up more often. When the housing bubble collapses and issues relating to mortgages make the news, mortgage fraud seems to be the most important crime to law enforcement officials. Today, high unemployment numbers are frequently discussed in the news. Predictably, we recently saw a story indicating the police have started cracking down on unemployment compensation fraud cases.
We have handled many unemployment compensation fraud cases in the Jacksonville, Florida area. Basically, in those cases the police allege that someone obtained unemployment compensation benefits when they were not entitled to them or for a time period longer than the entitlement. Often, the police claim that the suspect kept receiving unemployment benefits after returning to the workforce. Based on our experience, evidence supporting these criminal allegations is often shaky.
However, the reason the police are making these crimes a priority is obvious. According to the article, losses from unemployment compensation fraud across the country amounted to $1.7 billion in 2010, and approximately 30% of the improper unemployment fraud payments were made to people that had returned to work. Additionally, the unemployment rate figures to remain in the news as it is sure to be a major topic of discussion during the upcoming presidential campaigns.
If you have been accused of or arrested for unemployment compensation fraud in the Jacksonville, Florida area, feel free to contact us for a free consultation at Lasnetski Gihon Law for legal advice on the best way to respond and defend against those charges.