Somerset County postal employee indicted on wire fraud charges tied to unemployment benefits
TRENTON, N.J. — A Somerset County woman who worked for the U.S. Postal Service has been indicted on federal charges alleging she fraudulently collected tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits while employed, authorities said.
Samantha Jenkins, 45, of North Plainfield, was charged by indictment with five counts of wire fraud, according to Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello. Jenkins was arraigned Thursday in Trenton before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn.
According to court filings and statements made in court, Jenkins submitted weekly certifications to the New Jersey Department of Labor for more than a year claiming she was not working and was eligible for unemployment benefits. Authorities allege that during the same period, Jenkins was employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a window and mail clerk.
As a result of the alleged false certifications, Jenkins received tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits she was not entitled to receive, prosecutors said.
Investigators said that during the relevant period, Jenkins’ USPS salary and unemployment benefits were deposited into the same bank account. For approximately 13 months, that account received both her federal paycheck and unemployment payments, often with deposits from both sources occurring just days apart.
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
