EUGENE, Ore. — A Springfield woman has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance benefits using another person’s identity, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
Jamianne MacKenzie, 41, was sentenced to three months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay more than $30,000 in restitution.
According to court records, MacKenzie used a victim’s personal information to file a fraudulent unemployment insurance claim, obtaining more than $27,500 in benefits that she spent on personal expenses.
The fraud had significant consequences for the victim. Authorities said the victim was unable to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits after the Oregon Department of Human Services discovered that an unemployment claim had been filed under the victim’s Social Security number in December 2020. The issue came to light in March 2021, and the victim was ultimately denied more than $2,500 in TANF assistance.
A federal grand jury in Eugene indicted MacKenzie on Feb. 20, 2025, charging her with theft of government property. She later pleaded guilty to the offense.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General’s COVID Fraud Unit. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney William Narus.
Federal officials noted that the case is part of broader efforts to combat fraud involving government benefit programs. In April, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, which is tasked with investigating and prosecuting individuals who steal or misuse taxpayer-funded benefits. The initiative also supports the Trump administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a government-wide effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance aimed at reducing fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs.
About the Author
Discover more from Right Now Oregon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
