A CT man stole as much as $800K in pandemic unemployment benefits. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

In Connecticut, the federal government alleges the loss attributable to this scheme is as much as $793,254

A Connecticut man pleaded guilty this week to fraud offense related to his theft of pandemic unemployment benefits, according to federal authorities.

Olajuwon Harrington also known as “OJ Harrington” 31, of Waterbury, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford, according to federal authorities.

The government alleges the loss “attributable to Harrington through this scheme is as much as $793,254.”

Authorities, citing court documents and statements made in court, said that, using identifying information of victims without their knowledge, Harrington submitted to the Connecticut Department of Labor “numerous fraudulent applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Relying on the applications, the state agency “awarded unemployment assistance in the form of debit cards in the names of the victims and mailed the debit cards to addresses provided in the applications, authorities said in a statement. “Thereafter, Harrington obtained the debit cards issued in victims’ names and unlawfully used the cards for his own benefit.”

Harrington was arrested in November 2022. He pleaded guilty to access device fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 23. He is currently free on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

The investigation was done by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and the Connecticut Department of Labor.