An inmate at the Butler County Prison is among 33 that have been charged in western Pennsylvania for attempting to illegally obtain coronavirus unemployment benefits.
40-year-old Clifford Yoders has been incarcerated in Butler since June 11th. He is accused of using a jail phone to direct a relative to file a claim that he knew contained fraudulent statements.
United States Attorney Scott Brady and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that Yoders and the other inmates as well as their accomplices will face both federal and state charges.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program is newly created by the federal CARES Act and administered by the PA Department of Labor and Industry to provide benefits to people who are both unemployed for reasons related to the pandemic and available to work.
Yoder could face as much as 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Anyone who has filed a fraudulent claim should withdraw it as additional prosecutions of this crime are planned.