S. Berwick woman guilty of scamming unemployment for $37G during pandemic

PORTLAND, Maine - A South Berwick woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to theft of government money during the pandemic.

Cori Godin, 46, falsely claimed to be unemployed in order to receive unemployment insurance benefits, including federally funded benefits intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic, according to court records. For a period of approximately 13 months in 2020 and 2021, Godin falsely claimed to be unemployed in order to receive benefits. She received approximately $37,105 in benefits.

Beginning in about March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded unemployment insurance eligibility and benefits.

Godin faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of three years. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Unemployment payments are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to lawful workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General investigated the case.