PHILADELPHIA - Eight civilian employees of the Philadelphia Police Department have been indicted on federal charges after authorities say they fraudulently obtained emergency unemployment benefits related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced Tuesday that the eight defendants were charged with one count of mail or wire fraud and one count of theft of government funds for allegedly obtaining Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) while working for the department.
The employees facing charges have been identified by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as: Seven of the eight who were charged are employed as radio dispatchers for the department.