HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on Sept. 21, a federal grand jury in Harrisburg has returned an indictment charging Rashaad Schell, age 26, Abington, PA, with unemployment compensation fraud.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Schell was working for the United States Postal Service while also obtaining unemployment compensation from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry in Harrisburg. The amount of the loss to the unemployment compensation program is $18,000.
This matter was investigated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. Prosecution has been assigned to Chelsea Schinnour.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law is five years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
