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West Virginia Woman Admits Filing for Pandemic Unemployment Benefits for Incarcerated Co-defendant

Summary

A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania dated Tuesday, February 2, 2021, announcing that Christina Weigner of Clarksburg, WV, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. The Court was advised that Weigner conspired to commit fraud in connection with emergency benefits and filed for pandemic unemployment assistance in a co-defendant's name. It states that on June 11, 2020 an application was filed in the name of Levi Stroud, an inmate at State Correctional Institution-Greene, followed by 19 separate certifications that Stroud was unemployed. Sentencing was scheduled for June 8, 2021, and the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.

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“West Virginia Woman Admits Filing for Pandemic Unemployment Benefits for Incarcerated Co-defendant.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2021-02-03-west-virginia-woman-admits-filing-for-pandemic-unemployment-e5de1c3ef0/, SHA-256 cb86066ca1da041d0d1c884144550f60cc54332cac9022cb4be4ca99c486f591.

Full text

                                    Department of Justice
                                       U.S. Attorney’s Office
                                  Western District of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     Tuesday, February 2, 2021

      West Virginia Woman Admits Filing for Pandemic
    Unemployment Benefits for Incarcerated Co-defendant
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Clarksburg, WV, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of
conspiracy and fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Christina Weigner, age 48, of pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge
William S. Stickman IV.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Weigner conspired to commit fraud in
connection with emergency benefits and did commit fraud by filing for pandemic unemployment
assistance in her co-defendant’s name.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed
into law. The CARES Act created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, which provided
unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or
extended unemployment benefits. Individuals are eligible for these unemployment benefits if they
are unemployed due to the pandemic and are otherwise able work.

On June 11, 2020, an application for pandemic unemployment assistance was electronically filed in
the name of Levi Stroud, an inmate at State Correctional Institution-Greene. In the application, the
filer (who was later determined to be Christina Weigner) represented that she was Stroud, that
Stroud was unemployed as a direct result of the pandemic, and that Stroud could accept a job if one
were offered. Additionally, Weigner made 19 separate certifications that Stroud was unemployed for
particular weeks due to the pandemic, even though he was serving a state sentence.

Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for June 8, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a
maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the
Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the
offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court continued Weigner on bond.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the
government.

The Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of Labor conducted the investigation that led to
the prosecution of Christina Weigner.
Topic(s):                                             Component(s):
Coronavirus                                           USAO - Pennsylvania, Western
Financial Fraud

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