Casper, Wyo. (RELEASE from WDWS) September 16, 2021 — The Wyoming woman operating The Casper Playschool & Infant Center, accused of defrauding Wyoming Unemployment Insurance, has been found guilty of the charge.
Andria Mason was accused of the crime in Natrona County District Court in August of this year.
Ms. Mason entered a guilty plea to the felony charge, Fraud by Employing Unit. Mason was ordered to serve a minimum of two years in jail and pay $10,000 in restitution for the crime along with an additional payment of $200 to the Victim’s Compensation Fund. The prison term was suspended should Mason successfully complete three years of unsupervised probation.
DWS Workforce Programs Administrator Holly McKamey Simoni says the agency places a high priority on prosecuting instances of fraud. “As stewards of the fund which helps unemployed workers stay afloat while looking for employment, we take cases of fraud seriously.” Simoni added that finding and prosecuting instances of fraud is a key component in keeping the fund solvent.
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services strives to serve Wyoming employees and employers with a reliable and cost-effective Unemployment Insurance program. Persons who suspect Unemployment Insurance fraud may contact the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services’ fraud hotline at 888-996-9226 or use the “Report Fraud” link on our webpage, www.wyomingworkforce.org.
