Cincy ODJFS employee illegally accessed COVID-era unemployment claims [Video]

CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati woman has been indicted on multiple charges after Ohio officials claim she improperly accessed unemployment claims from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program while she was employed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

According to a press release from the Office of the Inspector General, Randall Meyer, Janelle Thrower-Rivera has been charged with theft, tampering with records, telecommunications fraud and misuse of a computer.

ODJFS was notified by Deloitte Consulting LLP, a contractor, that the business had noticed Thrower-Rivera’s accounts showed “possible suspicious activity,” the investigation report says. At the time, Thrower-Rivera was working for ODJFS as an intermittent customer service representative, according to the press release.

As a customer service representative, Thrower-Rivera’s role included providing assistance to claimants calling ODJFS with questions — not accessing PUA claims or adjudicating them.

Investigators determined, however that Thrower-Rivera had improperly attempted to release money to multiple …