Two corrections officers from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department have been arrested for allegedly submitting fraudulent information to obtain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced the charges, revealing that both individuals took advantage of relief programs meant to support small businesses and unemployed workers during the pandemic.
Christnel Orisca’s Alleged Fraudulent Activity
Christnel Orisca, 25, of Boston, faces five counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution. The charges stem from actions taken before he began his employment at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department in late 2021. Orisca allegedly applied for and received PUA benefits, unemployment insurance (UI), and PPP loans while working full-time for a security and delivery company. According to the department, he collected approximately $54,700 through fraudulent claims by misrepresenting his employment status and falsely claiming he was not working or earning income.
Jasmine Murphy’s Alleged Fraudulent Scheme
Jasmine Murphy, 38, of Boston, has been indicted on seven counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution. Her fraudulent actions involve PUA, PPP loans, and UI benefits obtained both before and during her employment with the sheriff’s department, which began in January 2022. Murphy allegedly filed for benefits while working for trucking and workforce services companies, ultimately collecting around $44,346 in fraudulent funds. Like Orisca, Murphy allegedly misrepresented her employment status on her PUA applications and submitted false statements about her business income and payroll in PPP loan applications.
The Importance of Protecting Pandemic Relief Funds
The U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted the critical importance of protecting taxpayer-funded programs such as the CARES Act from fraud and abuse. U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy remarked, “These defendants, who hold positions of public trust as corrections officers, are alleged to have knowingly exploited pandemic relief programs intended to support small businesses and unemployed workers during a time of unprecedented crisis.”
Both Orisca and Murphy face serious legal consequences if convicted, including significant fines and prison time. The case serves as a reminder of the efforts to safeguard relief programs from fraud and ensure that they serve those in genuine need during times of economic difficulty.