'EDD' rapper who bragged about unemployment fraud sentenced to 6 years in prison
Fontrell Baines, also known by his rap name "Nuke Bizzle" was sentenced to 77 months in jail for defrauding the EDD program, which he bragged about in a music video.
EDD debit card program rife with fraud, reports of unemployed Californians not getting their money
Debit cards were touted as a better alternative than checks for unemployed Californians. But a FOX 11 investigation reveals it's a program rife with fraud, complaints and worst of all, leaving people without their money.
DeSantis: Newsom's hair gel is 'interfering with his brain function' over immigration stance
The public feud between governors Gavin Newsom, of California, and Florida's Ron DeSantis continues to make headlines. This time, the issue stems from their two conflicting stances on immigration.
California doesn’t emphasize speedy jobless benefits: report
The report said payments were delayed for about 5 million people — up to half of all workers who applied for benefits during the height of the pandemic.
Former Palmdale mail carrier pleads guilty to EDD fraud
Stephen Glover could face up to 20 years in federal prison for allegedly using names and addresses from his mail route to file for unemployment benefits.
'EDD' rapper who bragged about getting rich from unemployment benefits fraud to plead guilty
Rapper Nuke Bizzle showed off stacks of envelopes with pre-loaded debit cards in the music video for his song "EDD." He's just agreed to plead guilty to unemployment benefits fraud.
California woman convicted of murder masterminded $2 million EDD scam: officials
A woman who is serving a life sentence for murder in California is charged with masterminding a $2 million fraud scheme involving COVID-19 unemployment money from behind bars, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
24-year-old California EDD contract worker helped 10 steal $2.7M: feds
Federal prosecutors have indicted 10 people for allegedly stealing $2.7 million in unemployment funds with the help of California EDD contract worker.
EDD must now expand language access to non-English speakers
A group of California advocates are claiming victory after reaching a settlement with the EDD over providing more language services to non-English speakers. Among the key provisions is $21 million to enhance multilingual services.
EDD attempt to claw back money it was forced to freely pay out
Many recipients, freelancers or small business owners, who received pandemic relief, say they don't have specific documents that can definitively prove they were seeking work or working.
California EDD freezes 345,000 disability insurance claims
California's Employment Development Department has frozen 345,000 claims for disability benefits while it investigates fraud and a widespread identity theft scam. The EDD's suspicions were piqued by a sudden surge in applications for benefits.
Former USC football player charged in COVID-19 unemployment benefits fraud scheme
Former USC football player Abdul-Malik McClain allegedly organized and assisted a group of other USC football players in filing fraudulent claims for hundreds of thousands of dollars of COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
EDD asks some California recipients to prove work history
About one million Californians who got unemployment payments from the pandemic-related federal benefit program now have to prove they had a prior work history or possibly pay back the money.
California’s unemployment fraud reaches at least $20 billion
State officials blamed nearly all of that fraud on a hastily approved expansion of unemployment benefits by Congress that let people who were self-employed get weekly checks from the government with few safeguards to stop people from getting benefits who were not eligible to receive them.
California hiring slows in September; jobless rate at 7.5%
In California, new coronavirus cases are at their lowest point since the start of the pandemic, schools have fully reopened and the more generous unemployment benefits from the federal government have expired — all signs of what should have been a robust economic recovery in September.
New California laws aim to combat fraud in jobless benefits
Gov. Newsom signed a law requiring the California prison system to share the names and Social Security numbers of inmates with EDD.
California trio files $2M in fake EDD claims to buy Audi, new home
A California inmate and his wife, a nurse, were allegedly part of a scheme that bilked the California EDD for $2 million in fake claims.
Laid-off Tesla employee frustrated with EDD, hires bot to make calls
Desmond Sylva, 39, was so frustrated about reaching the Employment Development Department to find out why he wasn't getting his unemployment check after being laid off as a Tesla production associate in Fremont, he hired a bot.
California agency bungled COVID-19 funds for homeless: audit
After receiving $316 million under the federal CARES Act to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on unhoused people, the California Department of Housing and Community Development “did not take critical steps to ensure those funds promptly benefited that population,” the state auditor’s office said.
Frustrated by EDD? Here's where you can go for help
State senators and assembly members have already become one of the few ways that unemployed people can get through to EDD. But does the typical Californian know that they can turn to their legislator for help?