PORTLAND, Ore. (April 16, 2026) — A Seaside woman has been sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a large-scale fraud scheme that exploited pandemic unemployment benefits and cost the government more than half a million dollars.
Tamara Fulmer, 48, was sentenced Wednesday to 28 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $581,283 in restitution.
Federal prosecutors said Fulmer fraudulently submitted unemployment insurance claims between May 2020 and October 2021, using the personal information of 27 individuals she falsely claimed were her employees.
“Fraudsters who steal benefits are not just stealing from the government – they are depriving other Oregonians who depend on those benefits to live,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. “Our office will continue to prioritize and prosecute theft of government funds.”
According to court documents, the Oregon Employment Department paid more than $567,000 in unemployment benefits based on Fulmer’s false claims. Investigators found she deposited at least 236 checks totaling nearly $69,000 into her personal bank account and cashed many others at a Seaside gas station without the knowledge or consent of the individuals listed on the applications.
Fulmer also received an additional $13,353 after submitting a fraudulent claim for herself, falsely stating she had not applied for or received disability benefits, despite having received such payments since 2004.
Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor, said the case highlights ongoing efforts to combat fraud involving government assistance programs.
“This case sends a clear message: those who attempt to defraud government programs will be held accountable,” D’Esposito said. “No fraud is too large or too small.”
A federal grand jury indicted Fulmer on Feb. 19, 2025, on one count of theft of government property. She pleaded guilty on Nov. 4, 2025.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith D.M. Bateman and Ethan G. Bodell.
Officials noted the case aligns with broader federal efforts to combat fraud. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, aimed at investigating and prosecuting misuse of taxpayer funds.
Anyone with information about suspected COVID-19-related fraud is encouraged to contact the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or submit a complaint online.
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