The District of Columbia has fired 61 city employees for collecting unemployment benefits while on the city payroll. The scam had been going on since 2009 and cost the city about $800,000,
The Washington Post reported.
The scheme was uncovered earlier this year and 92 employees were suspended. Since the initial suspensions, city officials have found payments have gone to another 100 current employees, according to the Post.
“We’re not going to tolerate this kind of activity in the government,” Pedro Ribeiro, Mayor Vincent Gray’s spokesman, told the Post. “The matter’s been turned over to the Office of the Attorney General, which will use civil litigation to recoup the money.”
City officials expect to fire more employees as the investigation proceeds. So far, the investigation found that three employees were unaware of the erroneous payments and avoided being fired, the Post reported.
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