A High Ridge woman is facing three federal charges for allegedly abusing her position with the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Division of Employment Security by allowing at least eight people to receive a total of $140,500 in unearned unemployment benefits, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office reported.
Vicky Hefner, 63, pleaded not guilty to three counts of theft of public money on Oct. 6 after being indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 28.
Each charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $250,000. In addition, if Hefner is convicted, she would be ordered to repay the money, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to the indictment, Hefner began working for the state’s Employment Security Division in 2009. She worked from her home in High Ridge and an office in St. Louis, helping people file their claims over the phone and adjudicating issues people had with unemployment claims.
From July to December 2020, Hefner reportedly logged into the accounts of friends, relatives and associates and changed their status, using her credentials to either make them eligible for unemployment benefits or increasing their benefits. She also triggered unemployment payments to people who were still working, the indictment said.
Those who got the benefits allegedly paid Hefner a portion of the money they received from the fraudulent claims, according to the indictment.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General at both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Dowd III is prosecuting the case.