Illegal Aliens Defraud State of Millions in Unemployment Benefits

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

Lake County Woman Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding the State of Illinois out of $6.8 Million in Unemployment Benefits

CHICAGO — A Lake County woman was sentenced today to four years in federal prison for defrauding the State of Illinois out of nearly $7 million in unemployment benefits.

LETICIA GARCIA assisted hundreds of individuals, mostly undocumented immigrants, in preparing and filing unemployment insurance claims that Garcia knew contained false information, such as

  • invalid Social Security numbers
  • false assertions of U.S. citizenship
  • phony dependent

As a result of the fraudulent claims, the Illinois Department of Employment Security paid out approximately $6.8 million in unemployment benefits to hundreds of ineligible claimants.

Garcia, 54, of Round Lake Beach, pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of mail fraud.

U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang imposed the sentence in federal court in Chicago.

The sentence was announced by Joel R. Levin, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and James Vanderberg, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General in Chicago.  The Illinois Department of Employment Security and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations provided valuable assistance.

“Defendant committed wholesale fraud against a state program designed to help some of the most vulnerable state residents get back on their feet after an unexpected job loss,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Eichenseer argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.

“Her crime diminished the resources available to eligible UI claimants who played by the rules.”

“Garcia defrauded taxpayers of millions of dollars by assisting hundreds of ineligible workers in their efforts to receive unemployment insurance benefits intended for Americans who were out of work,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Vanderberg.

“The Office of Inspector General will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who attempt to fraudulently obtain money from Department of Labor Programs.”

Many of Garcia’s clients were Mexican-born immigrants without lawful immigration status or U.S. work permits, making them ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits. 

From 2006 through May 2012, Garcia operated an office out of a converted garage in her home, where she and her employees saw as many as 15 clients per day. 

It was understood that Garcia would not ask clients for immigration papers.

Garcia charged each client $300 to $400 to prepare and file a claim online, with half of the fee due upfront and the balance owed when the client received the benefits. 

Through her fraud, Garcia made tens of thousands of dollars, which she hid in bank accounts in her daughter’s name.

The government is represented by Mr. Eichenseer.


Comments

Illegal Aliens Defraud State of Millions in Unemployment Benefits — 43 Comments

  1. 4 yrs doesn’t seem to be long enough.

    How will we ever recover those funds?

    And what happens to the people she aided in this fraud against U.S. Citizens that put money into this system.

    I’m growing pretty sick and tired of having to worry about offending illegal foreigners stealing from us.

    What about the fact that these crimes against us, offend us?

    Americans first, in America, period!

  2. This should come as a surprise to no one and I’ll wager that you won’t
    be hearing about this matter on any of the Chicago area news outlets.

    Entire neighborhoods and suburbs have been taken over or overrun by
    a wave of those who speak only Spanish, complete with stores and business that
    cater to said illegal alien invaders, most of whom are uneducated/undereducated at that.

    In conclusion, Obama’s multicultural transformation of America is well under way,
    and we’re all paying for it.

    Thank the first DEMOCRAT or RINO you see today.

  3. Waiting for that lowly POS Angel the pork-o – rican from hell to way in on this with some more ticky tacky philosophic bullshit.

  4. Respetemos y honremos al inmigrante! Thank you sunshine blogger. It’s been a while since you last posted a story trashing undocumented immigrants. My compassionate conservative friends needed an outlet to discharge their racial intolerance. 2018, are you here yet? Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  5. That was classy! What did I tell you about racial intolerance from my compassionate conservative friends? 2018, why is it taking so long? Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  6. What is exactly “way in?” God bless immigrants; all immigrants! 2018, please do not delay…Tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock…

  7. Mis amigos conservadores reaccionarios no pierden oportunidad para ofender y atacar a los inmigrantes indocumentados en nuestro país. Su odio racial es claro y su actitud es más baja que mezquina. Los inmigrantes indocumentados no califican para beneficios de seguro social, incapacidad, desempleo, entre otros. Sin embargo, ellos son sujetos a contribuir a todos esos fondos y se les descuenta la cantidad correspondiente de su cheque con ese propósito al cobrar su cheque en sus empleos. Tengan presente, los inmigrantes indocumentados vienen a este país a trabajar; a trabajar en los empleos que los nacionales de este país no quieren hacer. De este modo, los inmigrantes aportan billones de dólares al fondo del seguro social, incapacidad, desempleo, entre otros, mientras se les niega el derecho a beneficiarse de las contribuciones que hacen con ese propósito. Este es otro caso de explotación. Hasta cuando tendremos que aguantar tanta intolerancia y odio racial de cara a semejante abuso e injusticia que nuestros hermanos inmigrantes tienen que sufrir diariamente? Los comentarios ofensivos de aquellos que detestan al inmigrante representan su propia condena ante su destino. Ellos tendrán su juicio en su momento. Que Dios se apiade de sus almas en su hora final. Mientras tanto, sigamos honrando al inmigrante, sus esfuerzo,m su fe, su valor, su valentía, su compromiso con la familia, y su tenacidad ante toda adversidad. Después de todo, Jesús de Nazaret, ese mismo que nuestros amigos conservadores fanáticos reaccionarios tanto dicen que siguen, fue inmigrante también. 2018, hasta cuando tenemos que esperar? Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  8. Trashing immigrants?

    Hardly.

    We’re trashing illegal invaders who are criminals and that awful women who enabled them to do so!

    Compassion goes to the Americans whose hard earned tax dollars went to fund this illegal alien crime ring!

    Thank you President Trump for what you’re doing to get rid of this problem and put Americans first.

  9. False! Undocumented immigrants are subject to social security taxes, unemployment, and other payroll taxes. The fact they are statutorily excluded from those benefits is a systematic abuse and exploitation of them. Of course, my compassionate conservative friends are unable to see this. Their racial intolerance blinds them. Support and honor all immigrants. We all benefit from their hard work but fail to recognize they continue to be exploited and abused. 2018, over here please…Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  10. Thank you president tronald dump. We really needed a president who needed to shove away other world leaders to show his own insecurity. We are proud of you. And now the latest from tronald dump regarding foreign policy: “Nobody knew international affairs could be so complicated” Believe me! I found it on the internet…Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  11. Illegal employment schemes:

    – Had a work permit but Overstayed Visa.

    – Fraudulent birth certificate was used to obtain a Social Security Number.

    – Fraudulent use of a Social Security number (identity theft, etc.)

    +++++++++++

    Ten years of employment are necessary for citizens to receive Social Security benefits (4 credit per year x 10 years = 40 credits).

    +++++++++++

    Social Security does provide benefits to various sets of Non-Citizens (Qualified Aliens):

    Social Security Administration

    Spotlight on SSI Benefits for Aliens – 2017 Edition

    Under What Circumstances May a Non-Citizen be Eligible for SSI?

    http://www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-non-citizens.htm

  12. So presumably many if not all of the aforementioned undocumented immigrants subject to Social Security taxes but excluded from Social Security benefits are participating in some fraudulent activity.

    Perhaps they or someone on their behalf is using a fraudulent Social Security number or other illicit scheme to gain employment.

    +++++++++

    Teaches and administrators in the Illinois TRS pension program don’t contribute to Social Security.

    That is to their advantage, as TRS benefits are far more generous than Social Security benefits.

    All employees participating in Social Security have an employee contribution.

    However, in the majority of school districts in Illinois, the employer picks up most or all of the employee contribution to TRS.

  13. I remember our sunshine blogger stating he did not cover randy hultgren’s town hall meeting back in April because St. Charles was not in the limits of McHenry county. However, McHenry county limits expand miraculously when it comes to finding a tailor-made story to trash undocumented immigrants. That is why our tax fighter sunshine blogger is so respected and admired. We know them too well. Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  14. Remember if you aren’t native you are an immigrant and believe me our history is full of abuse from every corner of the world.

    Commenters probably call themselves Christians also and their comments must have Jesus scratching his head.

    Build a wall, they will use the pre-existing tunnels, or buy a boat.

    Dump Trump.

  15. Respect and honor all immigrants! McHenry county compassionate conservative christians recognize Jesus was also an immigrant, forced to leave his land because of persecution. That explains their deep respect and admiration for today’s immigrant; they are very consistent with their religious beliefs. Or not? 2018, over here please! Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  16. Go to your local hospital and see who is getting Healthcare and refusing to pay one cent. Go to Walmart and see who is getting the free groceries.

    We need immigrants in this country; we just don’t need leeches.

  17. Another glorious summer morning in beautiful McHenry county! The god Apollo shows his golden face above the eastern horizon and we greet another promising day given to us by our creator. Wait a minute! Is this yet another story brought to our attention by our sunshine blogger to trash immigrants and continue the evil agenda of demonizing and scapegoating them for all problems in our society? Nothing further from the truth! Our sunshine blogger continues to be at the forefront of courageous journalism. When your kids, grandkids, and great grandkids read in their history books the story of purse-gate, they will only have our sunshine blogger to thank for that. His commitment in getting to the bottom of that important and relevant story that will eventually signify a turning point in the history of our country continues to make us all proud. 2018, please do not delay…Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  18. Go to your local United States and see what economy benefits from the cheap labor immigrants are forced to get. The irresponsible scapegoating must stop….not really, compassionate conservatives with their anti-immigrant christian values continue to entertain us. 2018, are you here yet? Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  19. Pay your share. I have met many undocumented immigrants.

    Most paid no taxes but took every benefit including free health care.

    The rest of us at taxes and pay a lot for our health care.

    Who is the victim?

    It’s not the undocumented workers despite your efforts to paint that picture.

  20. You talk about Jesus but is it Christian to leave your family in Mexico and start family number two in the US?

    You know well that this is very prevalent in the Hispanic community.

    Two wives and two sets of kids with the family in Mexico left to struggle as “dad” takes care of his American family.

    I never hear much about this but it happens every day.

  21. Not true. Most pay income taxes (local, state, and federal), unemployment insurance, and others, but are statutorily excluded from those benefits. Their cheap labor and other abusive practices represent an enormous windfall for the United States’ economy, despite the evil picture our sunshine blogger and other clueless commenters try to bring here. 2018, over here please…tic, tock, tic, tock…

  22. Again, compassionate conservatives trying to twist christianity to advance an evil agenda of racial intolerance and despise for the poor. The gospel they supposedly follow and the leader they supposedly worship (Jesus the Galilean) is very clear with respect to the immigrant. We are suppose to welcome them, regardless of immigration status, as they represent the human component of political and economic oppression on this planet. Those we don’t, make a mockery of the word christian. 2018, are you here yet? Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  23. If leaving family behind is anti-christian and offensive to christian values, then this country was founded precisely on the negation of family values. Following this twisted line of thought, we must stop praising the pilgrims and all other european settler and immediately call them “family values destroyers.” Or is it that this only applies to Latinos? Stop the scapegoating now. Well, I know this may be too much to ask…2018, over here please…tic, tock, tic, tock…

  24. If you have any connection to the Hispanic community, you have to know many men who left their families in Mexico and then started family number two in the US.

    The family in Mexico is left to suffer as “dad” enjoys his life with his second family.

    Angel, do you condone this?

  25. This is a cheap argument to justify prejudice against an entire community of people. My compassionate conservative friends are very creative finding ways to trash immigrants. I know white anglos who left their families and started families #2, #3, and others and I will never dare to paint this group of people as anti-family. Additionally, I also know dozens of Latino families that left their countries of origin and stayed together after facing the most incredible hardship and adversity. Of course my compassionate conservative, family values friends will never bother to take a look at the reality of these families; it just does not help their prejudices and thirst for scapegoating. I’m sure right now more than one of our commenters is navigating right wing, anti-immigrant propaganda sites to post misleading and false information to justify their relentless attack against the dignity of all immigrants of the past, present, and future. Do you condone this? Was that 2018 I heard knocking at the door? Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  26. Ask that to the employers. Wait a minute! Do not mess with the job creators…tic, tock, tic, tock…

  27. Most Illegals don’t want to become a citizen of this country.

    They would end up getting less in benefits.

    They would end up having more of a foot print as well.

    Multiple SS#s etc.

    If they really wanted to become a citizen or get a work visa etc. it is not that difficult.

    Yes you might have to go back to Mexico, Central America, etc.. for less than a year but the process is not so daunting as some lead you to believe!

    Again they don’t want to become legal citizens.

    WHy would they.

    They can get a lot of benefits, have a business, and no one really bothers you.

    No reason to become one.

  28. Illegals are like a swarm of locusts that are having a dramatic effect on our country.

  29. I regularly publish press releases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

  30. Angel is a fraud. He’s not a teacher. He’s not an adult. He probably doesn’t even have any Spanish DNA in him.

  31. I happen to know that that is NOT Angel, but his life partner. (Who also happens to be the brains in the duo.)

  32. I demand more respect for our sunshine blogger; our hero of journalism. Stop bringing into discussion mental patient issues. 2018, are you here yet? Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  33. Mental patients obsess about clocks. Tick tick tick tick time for your meds.

    They also obsess about walls.

    4 of ’em-some padded.

    Let’s build him one!!!

    A nice tall one.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *