Unemployment Fraud charges are being seen more frequently in Weld County, Colorado. A person can be charged with Unemployment Insurance Fraud if they withhold or falsify information in order to receive benefits. One way this is done is by continuing to receive benefits after you obtain a job. Recently, six individuals were charged with Unemployment Fraud in relation to the Covid-19 Relief Funds, that were issued to unemployed workers during the pandemic. These individuals are accused of fraudulently applying for and receiving regular and pandemic related unemployment insurance benefits in multiple states including Colorado. The skilled fraud attorneys at the O’Malley Law office can help you. With the large number of people applying for unemployment benefits, if you find yourself accused of Unemployment Fraud, we can help. For help from our attorneys in Fort Collins, click here and we can connect with you.
Unemployment Fraud in Greeley, Colorado – Criminal Theft, C.R.S. 18-4-401, Definition
Unemployment Fraud in Greeley is when a person makes a false statement, files a false claim stating they are unemployed, or withhold information to receive unemployment benefits. However, in the state of Colorado, most fraud crimes fall under Criminal Theft. The definition of Criminal Theft in Greeley is:
(a) Intends to deprive the other person permanently of the use or benefit of the thing of value;
(b) Knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value in such manner as to deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit;
(c) Uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value intending that such use, concealment, or abandonment will deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit;
(d) Demands any consideration to which he or she is not legally entitled as a condition of restoring the thing of value to the other person; or
(e) Knowingly retains the thing of value more than seventy-two hours after the agreed-upon time of return in any lease or hire agreement.
(1.5) For the purposes of this section, a thing of value is that of “another” if anyone other than the defendant has a possessory or proprietary interest therein.
In an Unemployment Fraud charge, a person obtains something of “value” (the benefit) and they get it through deception.
Unemployment Fraud – What Actions Can Be Charged as Unemployment Fraud in Weld County?
In Weld County Unemployment Fraud, you could be charged if you do one of these things :
- Fail to report unemployment
- Fail to report employment
- Not report current earnings or hours
- Falsely report looking for a job
- Have multiple unemployment benefits in multiple states
- Cash an unemployment benefit check that does not belong to you
Sentence for Unemployment Fraud in Greeley, Colorado
The sentence for Unemployment Fraud in Greeley depends on the value of the benefit payments unlawfully received and the fraudulent claim.
Sentence Unemployment Fraud Benefit Penalties
| Class 3 Misdemeanor | more than $50 but less than $300 | Up to 6 months in Weld County Jail and a fine between $50 and $750 |
| Class 2 Misdemeanor | $300 – less than $750 | 3 to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 |
| Class 1 Misdemeanor | $750 – less than $2,000 | 6 to 18 months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 |
| Class 6 Felony | $2,000 – less than $5,000 | 12 to 18 months in Colorado State Prison and a fine of up to $100,000 |
| Class 5 Felony | $5,000 – less than $20,000 | 1 to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 |
| Class 4 Felony | $20,000 – less than $100,000 | 2 to 6 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 |
| Class 3 Felony | $100,000 – less than $1 million | 4 to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000 |
| Class 2 Felony | $1 million or more | 8 to 24 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000 |
Other penalties for Unemployment Fraud are a mandatory repayment of the benefits that you received and a 65% penalty. Other penalties could include not receiving benefits for 4 weeks for each week that you wrongfully received a benefit, and you could be placed on a Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Fraud prevention website.
With so many people applying for unemployment benefits it is possible to be falsely accused of Unemployment Fraud. Our top attorneys can fight for your rights and get you the best possible outcome in your case.
Have you or someone you love been accused of Unemployment Fraud in Greeley, Colorado? Be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best Greeley criminal fraud defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 today. Together, we can protect your future.
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