Somerset County Postal Worker Stole Thousands In Unemployment Funds: U.S. Attorney

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — A Somerset County woman was indicted for fraudulently getting tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment funds while working for the United States Postal Service, said U.S. Attorney Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello.

Samantha Jenkins, 45, of North Plainfield, was charged by indictment with five counts of wire fraud on Thursday.

For more than a year, Jenkins claimed she was not working and filed for unemployment benefits from the New Jersey Department of Labor, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

In reality, Jenkins worked for the USPS as a window/mail clerk. Jenkins received tens of thousands of dollars in employment benefits she was not entitled to, according to authorities.

For 13 months, Jenkins's USPS salary and her unemployment benefits were deposited into one of her bank accounts. Oftentimes, deposited just days apart from one another, according to authorities.

Jenkins faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each of the five charges of wire fraud.

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