The case of a Portland man sentenced to six months in prison last week for stealing unemployment benefits was one of only a handful of convictions since the Oregon Employment Department (OED) lost $100 million to fraudulent claims during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Matthew Kemp Stole More Than $147,000 From the OED
Matthew Kemp (41) pleaded guilty to stealing more than $147,000 in jobless claims he filed with the OED on behalf of 17 people. He then spent the money on himself.
Kemp agreed to repay the money as part of a plea deal.
Kemp filed claims using the Social Security numbers and birth dates of 17 people, some of whom were aware of his endeavors and mistakenly thought that they would receive the benefits, according to prosecutors.
Kemp Complained When the OED Was Slow to Pay
Prosecutors also revealed that on occasion, when the OED was slow to pay Kemp’s fraudulent claims, he would call the OED to complain, impersonating dthe applicant…