U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Waterbury Man Admits Theft of Pandemic Unemployment Benefits (USAO D-CT 05/11/2023) (2023-05-18)

Summary

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut, dated May 11, 2023, announcing that Olajuwon Harrington, also known as "OJ Harrington," of Waterbury waived indictment and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to access device fraud. According to court documents, Harrington used identifying information of real persons without their knowledge to submit fraudulent applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to the Connecticut Department of Labor, then obtained and used the debit cards issued in the victims' names. The government contends the loss attributable to Harrington is as much as $793,254. Sentencing is scheduled for August 23, and Harrington is released on a $50,000 bond.

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Full text

PRESS RELEASE



Waterbury Man Admits Theft of
Pandemic Unemployment Benefits
Thursday, May 11, 2023

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today
announced that OLAJUWON HARRINGTON, also known as “OJ Harrington” 31, of
Waterbury, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S.
District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to a fraud offense related to his theft of
pandemic unemployment benefits.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2020, the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into
law. The CARES Act created a new temporary federal unemployment insurance program
for pandemic unemployment assistance (“Pandemic Unemployment
Assistance”). Pandemic Unemployment Assistance provided unemployment insurance
(“UI”) benefits for employed individuals who are not eligible for other types of UI due to
their employment status. The CARES Act also created a new temporary federal program
called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) that provided
additional weekly benefits to those eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or
regular UI. The Connecticut Department of Labor (CT-DOL) administers UI benefits for
residents of Connecticut.

Using identifying information of real persons (“victims”) without their knowledge,
Harrington submitted to CT-DOL numerous fraudulent applications for Pandemic
Unemployment Assistance. Relying on the applications, CT-DOL awarded
unemployment assistance in the form of debit cards in the names of the victims and
mailed the debit cards to addresses provided in the applications. Thereafter, Harrington
obtained the debit cards issued in victims’ names and unlawfully used the cards for his
own benefit.

The government contends that the loss attributable to Harrington through this scheme
is as much as $793,254.
Harrington was arrested on a criminal complaint on November 30, 2022.

Harrington pleaded guilty to access device fraud, which carries a maximum term of
imprisonment of 15 years. Judge Williams scheduled sentencing for August 23.

Harrington is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of
Inspector General; U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General;
U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector
General and the Connecticut Department of Labor. The case is being prosecuted by
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.

Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19
are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for
Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form
at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

Updated May 11, 2023

Topics
CORONAVIRUS

DISASTER FRAUD

FINANCIAL FRAUD

IDENTITY THEFT


Component
USAO - Connecticut


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