CT man who stole pandemic unemployment advantages faces jail

A Connecticut man pleaded responsible this week to fraud offense associated to his theft of pandemic unemployment advantages, according to federal authorities.

Olajuwon Harrington often known as “OJ Harrington” 31, of Waterbury, waived his proper to be indicted and pleaded responsible earlier than U.S. District Choose Omar A. Williams in Hartford, according to federal authorities.

The federal government alleges the loss “attributable to Harrington by way of this scheme is as a lot as $793,254.”

Authorities, citing court docket paperwork and statements made in court docket, stated that, utilizing figuring out data of victims with out their information, Harrington submitted to the Connecticut Department of Labor “quite a few fraudulent purposes for Pandemic Unemployment Help.

Counting on the purposes, the state company “awarded unemployment help within the type of debit playing cards within the names of the victims and mailed the debit playing cards to addresses supplied within the purposes, authorities stated in a press release. “Thereafter, Harrington obtained the debit playing cards issued in victims’ names and unlawfully used the playing cards for his personal profit.”

Harrington was arrested in November 2022. He pleaded responsible to entry gadget fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 23. He’s at present free on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

The investigation was completed by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General; U.S. Division of Homeland Safety – Workplace of Inspector Normal; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Social Safety Administration – Workplace of Inspector Normal and the Connecticut Division of Labor.