In Arizona, two former Department of Economic Security (DES) employees found themselves entangled in a bribery scheme, exploiting the swell of unemployment insurance claims amidst the COVID-19 pandemonium. Jacqueline Espino, 53, from Phoenix, copped to a bribery charge last week and is now bracing for a sentencing showdown on May 5. Espino's former colleague, Brandilyn Lorenzen, 48, of Gilbert, already walked her way to a 30-month prison stint on January 22, with a hefty tab of $2.9 million in restitution.
It's clear that the adjudicators at DES weren't just processing claims—they were taking bribes for claims that should have been rejected. Between 2020 and 2022, while the agency was overwhelmed with UI and PUA claims, Espino and Lorenzen were pocketing money. Court documents reveal that they admitted to accepting bribes to approve unqualified claims and stealing large sums of government funds for themselves and others.
United States Attorney Gary Restaino didn't mince his words on the issue. "These defendants didn’t just accept bribes," he said in a statement, throwing a harsh glare on the deceit. "When public employees cheat, they damage the credibility of their colleagues across the country," warned Restaino, sharpening his critique with a nod to the surge of distrust toward public servants and a salute to those upholding their patriotic duties, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.
Chewing over the consequences of such betrayal, DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D. threw in his two cents. With government workers holding the keys to vital aid programs, he spotlighted their duty to protect these funds' sanctity. "Those who betray that trust will be held accountable," he assured, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona. The DHS OIG, alongside other key law enforcement partners, helped drag these cases into the harsh light of the courtroom.
Among the sordid details, Espino owned up to her role in juking the stats for 9 claims, nudging an erroneous $140,298 out of DES's coffers. In her confession, she also admitted to diverting an additional $600,672 for herself and others. Lorenzen, in her plea deal, acknowledged her slice of the action, citing 24 tampered claims that wrongly cost DES $532,964, while she raided a grand sum of $2,461,520 for personal enrichment. Her restitution: the cool sum of $2,994,484 back to the coffers of DES.
