A federal grand jury in Erie has indicted a Pennsylvania state employee on multiple counts related to pandemic unemployment benefits, alleging she approved payments to ineligible claimants in exchange for unauthorized payments and triggering a broad law enforcement response.
A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been charged following an investigation into pandemic-era unemployment payments. The five-count indictment names Elizabeth Goss, 43, as the sole defendant and tracks alleged misconduct while she worked at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
According to court filings, the scheme ran from in and around June 2020 to in and around February 2023. Prosecutors allege Goss accepted unauthorized payments from claimants to approve and expedite Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and other pandemic-related unemployment claims, even though those claimants were not entitled to benefits.
The indictment claims the alleged actions led to approximately $528,449 in unemployment compensation benefits being paid improperly. Those numbers now form the backbone of a federal case that brings wire fraud and theft of government property counts against Goss.
The charges carry serious maximum penalties: up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 on each of counts one through four for wire fraud, and up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 on count five for theft of government property. Sentencing under the federal guidelines will depend on the gravity of the offenses and any prior criminal history, if applicable.
United States Attorney Troy Rivetti commented on the case, saying, “This investigation and the resulting indictment send a clear message that government employees who steal and misuse public funds will be brought to justice.” That statement underlines the prosecution’s position and intent to pursue accountability where public dollars are at risk.
The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General also weighed in, with Anthony P. D’Esposito stating, “At the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, we are relentless in protecting the integrity of unemployment insurance programs.” The OIG framed the probe as part of an offensive effort to detect and deter fraud against benefit programs.
Law enforcement partners on the case included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. “Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in pursuing individuals who misuse the mail to defraud government programs intended to support the American public in times of need,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Dave Cunningham, reflecting coordinated interagency work.
The Department of Justice recently announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, which will focus on investigating and prosecuting theft and misuse of taxpayer dollars. Those DOJ efforts are tied to broader federal initiatives, including President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance, aimed at stamping out waste and abuse in federal benefit programs.
An indictment is an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is handling the prosecution for the government as the case moves through federal court, where the facts and evidence will be tested before a judge or jury.
