The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Richard W. Diggins, Jr., age 50, of York, Pennsylvania, was charged with making fraudulent claims against the United States in connection with unemployment insurance benefits.

     According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Diggins was receiving unemployment insurance benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board(RRB) between July 3, 2008 and October 22, 2009. During that same time period, Diggins maintained employment and earned wages that he failed to report to the RRB as required by law. As a result, Diggins received an overpayment of $17,622.00.

     If convicted, Diggins faces up to five years imprisonment and/or $250,000 in fines.

     The case was investigated by the RRB Office of Inspector General and is assigned to Senior Litigation Counsel Bruce Brandler for prosecution.

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An Indictment or Information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.

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