A Hampton woman faces prison time and a fine after pleading guilty to federal charges of receiving unemployment benefits in other people’s names.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa says 53-year-old Stephanie Mendenhall pleaded guilty recently to four counts of theft of government funds and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Mendenhall admitted at a plea hearing to making false claims in the names of others and depositing proceeds of $35,985 in her bank account.
She received fraudulent benefits paid through the states of Maine, Michigan, Washington and Illinois, including benefits related to COVID-19 relief funds to which she was not entitled.
A sentencing date has not yet been set. Mendenhall faces up to 60 years in prison and a one-point-five million dollar fine when she is sentenced.
(By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City)
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