HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced charges against five out-of-state residents accused of attempting to illegally get Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through funds from the CARES Act.Shapiro announced the charges against the five people on Tuesday in coordination with federal and local law enforcement agencies.
A total of nine people conspired to illegally take PUA funds totaling $925,000. According to the Attorney General’s office, investigators learned seven of those people claimed to work for the same trucking company from January 2020 to March 2020.
They then claimed their employment ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors say there is no record of their employment with the company in Pennsylvania Five of the individuals were named in criminal complaints filed in the state.
They were identified as Regine Ford, 26, of Newark, Delaware, John Rivers III, 35, of Loganville, Georgia, Jose Thomas, 43, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, Shammiere Lackey, 28, of Pennsville, New Jersey and Adrian Hambrick, 38, of Salem, New Jersey.