Man accused of taking state aid while working
By Teresa Auch Schultz tauch@post-trib.com November 1, 2012 4:32PM
Updated: December 3, 2012 6:42AM
A Chesterton man has been charged with stealing his brother’s identity and taking unemployment benefits when he actually had a job, according to a federal indictment.
According to the indictment, unsealed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in South Bend, Leon Thomas, 38, used his brother’s name, Social Security number and other identifying information when he began working in 2006 for an unnamed Michigan City company.
Thomas was then laid off in 2008 and again used his brother’s information to file for state unemployment aid through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
He was rehired at some point, according to court records, but continued to file for unemployment every week from June 2009 to July 2010. That paperwork included claims that he was not working, according to the indictment.
Thomas received about $10,000 during this time.
Thomas, who was arrested Thursday, was ordered held without bond pending a detention hearing set for Friday.
