A Lehigh County man has settled federal claims he improperly collected unemployment funds for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic while he was employed by the U.S. Postal Service.
The 42-year-old from Center Valley agreed to pay $110,610 under a consent judgement to settle the False Claims Act allegations, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced Friday.
The settlement resolves claims that are only allegations, and there has been no determination of liability, prosecutors said. A similar incident allegedly involving a USPS worker from Philadelphia was also settled, with the worker paying $100,399.
Prosecutors said the Lehigh County man made false and fraudulent statements to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry in order to collect unemployment during the pandemic. The funds were meant for people who were not eligible for regular unemployment or extended unemployment benefits.
The man was working full-time for the United States Postal Service for most or all of the time he was collecting unemployment, as well as driving for Uber, prosecutors said.
He submitted weekly certifications that he was unemployed, officials said.
“There is no excuse for any individual who fraudulently obtains money set aside to help victims of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Romero said in a news release. “The fraud alleged in this case is particularly egregious as it was perpetrated by a federal employee.”
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