LOS ANGELES, CA – Thirteen employees in Los Angeles County face felony charges for allegedly stealing a total of $437,383 in state unemployment benefits from 2020 to 2023. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has ordered these arrests as part of an ongoing investigation into fraud.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman addressed the situation, stating, “When a civil servant steals from the government, that trust is broken.” He noted the gravity of the fraud, emphasizing that the defendants claimed unemployment benefits during a public health emergency when many Californians legitimately needed assistance.
Each of the charged employees faces one felony count of grand theft along with a misdemeanor offense. They reportedly submitted fraudulent claims to the California Employment Development Department while continuing to receive paychecks from the county.
The fraudulent claims involved asserting they earned less than $600 per week during two-week claim periods while their actual earnings exceeded that limit. “Public service is a public trust,” said Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller Oscar Valdez, adding that most county employees serve the public with integrity.
The cases against these employees were filed on October 9 and 10. Alm Agamalian is accused of stealing $37,800 between October 2020 and March 2023. Other individuals face similar accusations, with some scheduled for arraignment on dates throughout November.
If convicted, each defendant could receive up to three years in state prison. The cases remain under the scrutiny of the Los Angeles County Department of Auditor-Controller, Office of County Investigations.
The ongoing investigation has revealed that the county faced losses exceeding $3.75 million due to fraud linked to pandemic unemployment insurance. The public is being encouraged to report any known fraud involving county employees.