Tamara Fulmer, a 48-year-old resident of Seaside, Oregon, was sentenced on April 15 to 28 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $581,283 in restitution after being convicted of stealing COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address pandemic-related fraud and ensure that government funds reach those who need them most. Fulmer’s actions resulted in significant losses from public benefit programs designed to support individuals during the COVID-19 crisis.
According to court documents, between May 2020 and October 2021, Fulmer used the personal information of 27 individuals she claimed were her employees to file fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits. The Oregon Employment Department paid out more than $567,000 based on these false claims. Fulmer deposited at least 236 checks totaling nearly $69,000 into her own account and cashed many checks at a gas station without the applicants’ knowledge or permission. She also received an additional $13,353 after submitting her own fraudulent application while falsely claiming not to have received disability payments since 2004.
“Fraudsters who steal benefits are not just stealing from the government – they are depriving other Oregonians who depend on those benefits to live,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Our office will continue to prioritize and prosecute theft of government funds.” Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General added: “This case sends a clear message: those who attempt to defraud government programs will be held accountable. Tamara Fulmer stole nearly $600,000 from the unemployment insurance program at a time when Americans needed those funds most… No fraud is too large or too small.”
Fulmer was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 19, 2025 and pleaded guilty on November 4 that year. The investigation involved several agencies including the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith D.M. Bateman and Ethan G. Bodell.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced its new National Fraud Enforcement Division dedicated to investigating misuse of taxpayer dollars—a move supporting President Trump’s Task Force chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance aimed at eliminating fraud within Federal benefit programs.
Scott Bradford has served as U.S Attorney after holding roles such as Chief of the White Collar Unit and Acting Chief of Counterintelligence and Export Control Section according to the official website. The office engages in community outreach across Oregon according to its official website, maintains offices in Portland, Eugene and Medford according to its official website, operates under one among ninety-three such offices nationwide according to its official website, employs over one hundred staff members according to its official website, and seeks justice through civil/criminal representation while fostering trust in federal courts according to its official website.
Anyone with information about attempted COVID-19 related fraud can report it via hotline or web complaint form provided by the Justice Department.
