Unemployment Insurance Fraud Investigation Yields Eight Convictions

INDIANAPOLIS (January 29, 2018) – The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) receives wage reports and new hire data from Hoosier employers documenting who is employed and receiving compensation. The agency’s unemployment insurance fraud investigation taskforce examines claims of individuals who intentionally provide false, misreported or unreported information in order to fraudulently claim benefits. As a result of the taskforce’s investigations, local courts recently found these individuals guilty of unemployment insurance fraud:

• Tina Dodson, 55, of Indianapolis was sentenced to 910 days of probation and ordered to repay DWD $9,711 for the benefits she fraudulently collected.
• David S. Evans Jr., 53, of Noblesville was sentenced to 68 days with 60 suspended and eight days to be served in Hamilton County Jail. He also was ordered to repay DWD $28,529 for the benefits he fraudulently collected.
• Nelson Grafton, 40, of Martinsville was sentenced to 910 days of probation and ordered to repay DWD $20,835 for the benefits he fraudulently collected.
• Daniel Humbles Sr., 57, of Indianapolis was sentenced to 545 days of probation and ordered to repay DWD $10,140 for the benefits he fraudulently collected.
• Charles E. Lewis, 56, of Indianapolis was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to repay DWD $27,963 for the benefits he fraudulently collected.
• Donette Reese, 43, of Indianapolis was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to repay DWD $9,958 for the benefits she fraudulently collected.
• Jeffery A. Smock, 45, of Franklin was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to repay DWD $31,809 for the benefits he fraudulently collected.
• Kevin Wright, 44, of Greenwood was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to repay DWD $18,754 for the benefits he fraudulently collected.

Since 2013, Indiana courts have ordered fraudsters to repay millions in restitution to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. “Combatting fraud preserves employer-paid monies in the trust fund for those individuals whom are truly in need of unemployment insurance benefits,” said Kate Shelby, DWD, Unemployment Insurance Operations Director.

You can help combat unemployment insurance fraud and abuse by reporting it online at www.in.gov/dwd/fraud. Your efforts will assist the agency in ensuring that tax dollars are spent wisely and unemployment insurance benefits are paid only to people who are eligible to receive them. You do not need to provide your name or any other identifying information in order to file a complaint.