Lancaster Resident Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Unemployment Compensation Benefits Fraud

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angel Luis Carrasco-Rivera, age 54, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by Chief United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner in Harrisburg for fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits. 

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, Carrasco-Rivera, Lancaster, was charged in a Criminal Information with mail fraud in January 2016.  The charge stemmed from Carrasco-Rivera filing claims for unemployment compensation benefits from 2008 through late 2012 with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry in Harrisburg. Carrasco-Rivera knew he was not entitled to those benefits because he was employed full time when he applied for and received them.  Carrasco-Rivera obtained more than $102,000 in benefits to which he was not entitled during that four-year period.

Carrasco-Rivera pled guilty in February 2016 pursuant to a plea agreement.  Chief Judge Conner ordered Carrasco-Rivera to pay $89,500 in restitution to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Internal Audits Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy prosecuted the case.

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