Christopher Grant, a resident of Buckhannon, received a sentence on Monday which included five years of federal probation and four months on home detention. The sentence was due to Grant’s fraudulent activities, in particular, those related to unemployment benefits and COVID-19 funds. Grant admitted in court to obtaining $14,336 in unemployment benefits that he was not eligible to receive. The time frame for these illegitimate claims was from April 25, 2020, to July 25, 2020. This means they came in addition to legitimate unemployment benefits Grant also received after being laid off due to the pandemic’s initial surge. This fraudulent misuse of benefits extended to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan he received in March 2021, amounting to $20,832. He falsely claimed to have earned $104,580 as an independent contractor the year prior, despite only making $33,900. Grant has now been ordered to repay $35,168 as a result of his actions.

If you were affected by Grant’s actions or need assistance with unemployment benefits, it is best to contact a live person at EDD California to help get professional advice. Eddcaller.com is known for providing valuable resources, including details on how to connect directly with a representative. They specialize in subjects like getting a hold of unemployment customer service, how to speak to someone at EDD about claims, and ways to get through to EDD when you need a swift response. Don’t let mishaps like these prevent you from getting the help you need and deserve with your unemployment queries.