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What we know : While working for the county, the DA’s office alleges that the employees fraudulently filed for unemployment, claiming to earn less than $600 a week. The employees are tied to seven different county agencies, including the sheriff’s department and the departments of health services, child support services and others.

Officials say : “When a civil servant steals from the government, that trust is broken,” District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement Wednesday. “Today, we are putting all government employees on notice: If you steal from taxpayers, you will be prosecuted.”

What’s their punishment if found guilty? If convicted, the 13 defendants could be looking at a maximum of three years in state prison.

Pandemic-era unemployment fraud : The Auditor

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