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Two Suffolk County officers accused of unemployment fraud
One officer allegedly scammed multiple programs for more than $54,000, while the other is accused of cashing in on more than $44,000.
Two correction officers are facing federal charges after allegedly cashing in on at least $44,000 each in unemployment benefits while working at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, officials said.
Christnel Orisca, 25, and Jasmine Murphy, 38, both Boston residents, were indicted by a federal grand jury on one count each of making a false statement to a financial institution, arising out of multiple unemployment and pandemic unemployment program benefits, federal prosecutors said.
Orisca is facing five counts of wire fraud and allegedly obtained the benefits prior to his employment at SCSD. Murphy was indicted on seven counts of wire fraud and allegedly obtained some benefits before and during her employment.
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Both Orisca and Murphy allegedly lied about their employment status weekly when applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, federal prosecutors said.
They are both accused of lying to SBA-approved lenders about their income and payroll connected to their purported small business to get loans. They also allegedly lied on forms to get their Paycheck Protection Program loans forgiven, federal prosecutors said.
Orisca, who has worked as an officer since late 2021, allegedly applied for pandemic unemployment and small business loan benefits. While working full-time, he collected about $54,700 in benefits and small business loan funds, according to U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy’s office.
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Murphy, who has worked at SCSD since early 2022, allegedly collected about $44,346 in benefits and loan funds “to which she was not entitled,” Levy’s office said.
The charge of wire fraud carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of making false statements to a financial institution provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.
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