A Martinsburg woman has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after admitting she unlawfully collected nearly $30,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits, despite having returned to work. The case, handled in the Northern District of West Virginia, is one of many ongoing prosecutions related to misuse of federal COVID-19 relief programs.
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According to federal prosecutors, 51-year-old Beverly Ashbaugh began receiving Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) in March 2020 when her employment was disrupted due to the pandemic. However, after resuming work, she continued to file claims and receive benefits she was no longer eligible for. In total, Ashbaugh obtained close to $30,000 in fraudulent unemployment funds.
The investigation was conducted by Workforce West Virginia and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Salem. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble oversaw the case proceedings. Ashbaugh now faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, factoring in the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office has emphasized continued efforts to identify and prosecute fraud involving pandemic relief funds, citing a commitment to recovering misused taxpayer dollars. This case reflects the broader federal crackdown on fraudulent claims made under COVID-19 assistance programs.
Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia
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