Postal Employee Indicted on Federal Wire Fraud Charges Tied to Unemployment Benefits

Prosecutors allege North Plainfield woman collected tens of thousands in unemployment payments while working for the U.S. Postal Service.

A North Plainfield woman who worked for the United States Postal Service has been indicted on federal wire fraud charges for allegedly collecting tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits while continuing to earn a salary as a postal employee, federal officials announced.

Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello said Samantha Jenkins, 45, was charged by indictment with five counts of wire fraud. Jenkins was arraigned Tuesday in Trenton before Justin T. Quinn.

According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, Jenkins allegedly submitted weekly certifications to the New Jersey Department of Labor for more than a year, claiming she was not employed and therefore eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Prosecutors contend that during the same period, Jenkins was actively working as a window and mail clerk for the United States Postal Service.

As a result of those alleged misrepresentations, Jenkins is accused of receiving unemployment payments she was not entitled to while simultaneously earning a federal salary. Authorities said both her USPS paychecks and unemployment benefits were deposited into the same bank account over a 13-month period, in some cases within days of each other.

Each count of wire fraud carries a potential maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, if convicted.

Lamparello credited the investigation to special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.

Federal officials emphasized that the charges outlined in the indictment are allegations. Jenkins is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.