PA Inmates Paid Thousands In Pandemic Unemployment Scam: AG

HARRISBURG, PA — Dozens of inmates in Pennsylvania prisons have been charged in connection with a large-scale COVID unemployment scam, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced this week.

More than 50 people are charged in connection with the scam, including more than two dozen inmates — one who received more than $22,000 in benefits.

The first round of 33 arrests were announced in August and included 18 inmates at eight state and county jails and prisons in western Pennsylvania and their accomplices.

This week, Shapiro announced 20 more arrests.

The inmates at three state prisons in central and eastern Pennsylvania are linked to at least two existing rings that conspired to provide false information on COVID-19 unemployment benefit applications, Shapiro said this week.

Prosecutors allege the inmates filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and in some cases helped others who were incarcerated file in exchange for drugs or money. Accomplices who helped facilitate the claims are also charged.

"These arrests are not the end of our investigation, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues at the federal level to track down those heading these schemes, along with those who are willfully participating and breaking the law," Shapiro said Wednesday.

According to prosecutors, the first and larger ring was operated in Centre County, out of State Correctional Institution Benner. The second ring was operated in Schuylkill County, out of State Correctional Institution Mahanoy.

The Benner ring, which the Attorney General said is behind more than $109,900 in thefts, was operated by two ringleaders and eight additional co-conspirator inmates.

The Mahanoy ring had two ringleaders as well as two additional inmates. That ring is behind 13 fraudulent filings, totaling $78,994, prosecutors said.

You're only eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance if you're unemployed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic and available to work.

People who are incarcerated or who are detained pending a criminal trial are not available for work, nor are they unemployed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. "As a result, they are not eligible to receive PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) benefits for the period of their incarceration," Shapiro's office said.

Here are the defendants most recently charged and the allegations, according to prosecutors:

Benner ring

• Adele B. Moore: Moore, who is not incarcerated, first filed for PUA for herself and for inmate Jacob Snook. Moore then conspired with Neff Zonge to file PUA for inmates Butler, Lyter, Baker, Young, Sullivan, Leidig, and Klecha. Moore received a total of approximately $7,000 from the inmates for filing the applications and from two of the inmate debit cards that she received for the inmates at her residence.
• James G. Neff Zonge: Inmate at SCI Benner from State College, Centre County. Neff Zonge first had Adele Moore attempt to file PUA for him. His PUA was filed but not approved. Neff Zonge then provided the names of his inmate associates from inside SCI Benner. Neff Zonge provided Moore with the name, birthdate, Social Security Number, and mailing address for inmates Butler, Lyter, Baker, Young, Sullivan, Leidig, and Klecha. Neff Zonge received approximately $3,000 from the inmates for help filing PUA.
• Todd A. Butler: Inmate at SCI Benner from Columbiana, Ohio. Todd Butler provided his name, birthdate and Social Security Number to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Butler received $9,930 in UC payments.
• Michael C. Lyter: Inmate at SCI Benner from Harrisburg, Dauphin County. Wife now lives in Perry County. Lyter provided his name, birthdate, mailing address, and Social Security Number to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Lyter received $12,315 in UC payments.
• Ronald E. Baker: Inmate at SCI Benner from Glen Rock, PA, York County. Baker provided his name, birthdate and Social Security Number to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Baker received $13,110 in UC payments.
• Derek L. Young: Inmate at SCI Benner from Watsontown, PA, Northumberland County. Young provided his name, address, birthdate and Social Security Number to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Young received $9,930 in UC payments.
• James E. Sullivan: Inmate at SCI Benner from Hawley, PA, Wayne County. Sullivan provided his name, birthdate, mailing address, and Social Security Number to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Sullivan received $9,930 in UC payments.
• James M. Leidig: Inmate at SCI Benner from Chambersburg, PA, Franklin County. Leidig provided his name, birthdate, mailing address, and social security number to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Leidig received $22,245 in UC payments.
• Joseph E. Klecha: Inmate at SCI Benner from Montrose, PA, Susquehanna County. Klecha provided his name, birthdate, mailing address, and social security numberto Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Klecha received $12,315 in UC payments.
• Jacob P. Snook: Inmate at SCI Benner, From Bellefonte, Centre County. Snook was the first of the SCI Benner inmates to successfully commit PUA fraud. Snook received $10,125 in UC payments.

Mahanoy ring

• Wendy Danfora: Co-Conspirator from York, PA, York County. Danfora is the girlfriend of inmate Markal Munford, who is incarcerated at SCI Mahanoy. Danfora conspired with Munford to file for PUA benefits for themselves, family members and other inmates at SCI Mahanoy.
• Markal Munford: Inmate at SCI Mahanoy, Frackville, PA, Schuylkill County. Munford provided the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers for other inmates through prison communications to his girlfriend, Danfora, starting at the end of May 2020. They frequently discussed the scheme during their telephone calls. Danfora kept the funds to spend on herself and three children. Between Danfora and Munford, they are responsible for at least 13 fraudulent filings, which total $78,994.

Inmates at SCI Phoenix who applied for fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits include:

• Jermaine Plumer: Received $18,264 worth of PUA paid out after he provided personal identifying information to non-incarcerated individuals.
• Rafael Rodriguez: Received $22,109 worth of PUA paid out after he provided personal identifying information to non-incarcerated individuals.
• Dwayne Washington: Received $3,510 worth of PUA paid out after he provided personal identifying information to a non-incarcerated individual.
• Leroy Barnes: Was never paid, but did provide his personal identifying information to a non-incarcerated individual to have them complete a PUA application on his behalf.
• Andrew Simms: Was never paid, but did provide his personal identifying information to a non-incarcerated individual to have them complete a PUA application on his behalf.
• Dexter Pitts: Received $3,150 worth of PUA paid out after he provided his personal identifying information to a non-incarcerated individual.