Fraud Investigation Report Employment Security Department

On October 27, 2020, the Department notified our Office regarding a potential loss of public funds, as required by state law (RCW 43.09.185). Our investigation determined a misappropriation of unemployment insurance benefit funds occurred at the Department, totaling $315,282, and that the Department made an additional $121,503 in questionable payments related to this situation between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. The Department also referred the case to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for investigation