Photos: Placer County Sheriff’s Office
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has announced the sentencing of two inmates in connection to a statewide Employee Development Department fraud scheme.
The Placer County Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s Office had first caught wind of the scheme in October 2020, during which time numerous EDD applications were being processed without verifying income due to the overwhelming volume of such applications amid the pandemic.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, some inmates used the opportunity to fraudulently apply for and obtain these benefits while incarcerated by declaring themselves as independent contractors or self-employed.
The individuals in this specific case are identified as 25-year-old Kevyn Arquieta and 41-year-old Fernando Alvarado. Officials say Arquieta applied for the benefits with assistance from Alvarado.
Both have been sentenced to prison, in addition to their existing charges, and will have to pay restitution to the Employee Development Department.
