Latest news with #PennsylvaniaTreasuryDepartment
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Man pleads guilty to Pennsylvania COVID-19 fund scheme
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)– A California man pleaded guilty to his involvement in a scheme to launder millions in state unemployment compensation funds from numerous state treasuries, including Pennsylvania. The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said Carlos A. Grijalva, 59, of Simi Valley, California, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the amount of $46.4 million. Grijalva is the second person to plead guilty in connection with the case. The attorney's office said Grijalva admitted that he and multiple others agreed to launder state unemployment compensation funds they knew had been fraudulently obtained from 2021 to 2022. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now He also admitted to entering into agreements that made it seem like they were operating businesses selling masks and other COVID-19 protection equipment, knowing that funds laundered through their companies came from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation benefits, per the attorney's office. Grijalva told the court he knew individuals from China were conducting the fraudulent activities, resulting in millions of fraudulent unemployment compensation payments issued by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, among other states. The attorney's office said Grijalva also claimed that he and Brian R. Cleland provided bank account information of identity theft victims to payment processing companies to generate ACH payments to accounts he controlled. This resulted in the two obtaining more than $46 million. According to the attorney's office, Grijalva and Cleland later used different bank accounts to transfer over $30 million to companies controlled by Bruce Jin. Jin would then transfer a portion of the funds to parties in China. Grijalva said he made an estimated $2.2 million in personal profit. The attorney's office said Jin has been detained since August 2023, and Cleland has pleaded not guilty to his charges and is awaiting trial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
25-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
"Money Match" checks are in the mail to Pennsylvania residents. What to know about the unclaimed property program.
For the first time ever, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department is returning unclaimed property automatically, thanks to a new law. "The first Pennsylvania Money Match checks are officially in the mail and they're on their way to their rightful owners, how great is that!" Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity said Monday. Pennsylvania Money Match checks totaling more than $1.7 million were mailed out this week to nearly 7,400 people. Garrity said these checks are real and if you receive one in your mailbox, the money belongs to you. "The best news is there's a lot more to come," Garrity said. The new Money Match program allows the state treasury to automatically return certain unclaimed property. "That means no searching, no forms to fill out, and no documents to provide. Automatic returns through Money Match apply to unclaimed property that is owned by a single individual and worth up to $500. Other properties still require search and filing a claim, for now!" Garrity said. "I was completely unaware that I had unclaimed property until I received a letter back in January from the Pennsylvania Treasury stating that I would be receiving a check for nearly $500," said Nina Hard, a Pennsylvania Money Match check recipient. More than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property is being safeguarded in the Treasury's vault. It could be old bank accounts, uncashed checks, rebates, or even the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes. Garrity said Money Match checks will be sent quarterly. She said the next batch of letters will go out to 40,000 people in May with checks to follow by mid-June. "It's a simple, efficient, and effective way to get money back into the hands of the people who own it and deserve it," said Senator Scott Hutchinson (R-21). "Less red tape, less paperwork, and more money in your pocket... after all money should be going to the people who earned it," said Representative Ryan Bizzarro (D-3). Garrity said people should continue to search for unclaimed property on the treasury's website because claims still need to be filed for properties valued above $500 or those that have multiple owners. There are at least two bills being proposed by lawmakers, including one that's sponsored by Bizzarro that would increase the amount that can be returned automatically to thousands of dollars.
CBS News
25-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Pennsylvania Treasury Department begins mailing out "Money Match" checks
For the first time ever, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department is returning unclaimed property automatically thanks to a new law. "The first Pennsylvania Money Match checks are officially in the mail and they're on their way to their rightful owners, how great is that!" said Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Pennsylvania Money Match checks totaling more than $1.7 million were mailed out this week to nearly 7,400 people. Garrity said these checks are real and if you receive one in your mailbox, the money belongs to you. "And the best news is there's a lot more to come," Garrity said. The new money match program allows the treasury to automatically return certain unclaimed property. "That means no searching, no forms to fill out, and no documents to provide. Automatic returns through Money Match apply to unclaimed property that is owned by a single individual and worth up to $500, other properties still require search and filing a claim, for now!" Garrity said. "I was completely unaware that I had unclaimed property until I received a letter back in January from the Pennsylvania Treasury stating that I would be receiving a check for nearly $500," said Nina Hard, a Pennsylvania Money Match Check Recipient. More than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property is being safeguarded in the Treasury's vault. It could be old bank accounts, uncashed checks, rebates, or even the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes. Garrity said money match checks will be sent quarterly. She said the next batch of letters will go out to 40,000 people in May with checks to follow by mid-June. "It's a simple, efficient, and effective way to get money back into the hands of the people who own it and deserve it," said Senator Scott Hutchinson (R-21). "Less red tape, less paperwork, and more money in your pocket... after all money should be going to the people who earned it," said Representative Ryan Bizzarro (D-3). Garrity said people should continue to search for unclaimed property on the treasury's website because claims still need to be filed for properties valued above 500 dollars or those that have multiple owners. There are at least two bills being proposed by lawmakers, including one that's sponsored by Bizzarro, that would increase the amount that can be returned automatically to thousands of dollars.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania unclaimed property checks: Will you get one?
More than 8,000 Pennsylvanians will get letters this week, letting them know a check from the state is on the way. "For the first time ever, we're returning unclaimed property to hardworking Pennsylvanians without requiring them to file a claim or submit any paperwork at all. We truly cut red tape out of state government – and how often does that happen? If you receive a Money Match letter, read it and keep it! About 45 days later, your unclaimed property will arrive in the form of a check from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department," Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity said in a statement. The Pennsylvania Money Match Program was unanimously approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro last year.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands of Pennsylvanians to receive unexpected checks: Here's why
(WTHM) – Thousands of Pennsylvanians will receive an unexpected surprise in the mail this week. The Pennsylvania Treasury says they will be sending letters to more than 8,000 Pennsylvanians indicating they have unclaimed property that will be automatically returned to them. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The first batch of letters includes claims totaling over $2 million worth of unclaimed property. Checks will be sent out within the next 45 days. According to the Treasury, this is the first step in the Pennsylvania Money Match program, which was signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro last summer. The program allows the Treasury to automatically return properties valued up to $500 after an identification and verification process. 'This is a truly historic day,' said State Treasurer Stacy Garrity. 'For the first time ever, we're returning unclaimed property to hardworking Pennsylvanians without requiring them to file a claim or submit any paperwork at all. We truly cut red tape out of state government – and how often does that happen? If you receive a Money Match letter, read it and keep it! About 45 days later, your unclaimed property will arrive in the form of a check from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.' Pennsylvania Treasury's fall unclaimed property auction smashes record Those who may have unclaimed property worth more than $500 can check the unclaimed property website to submit a claim. About 1 in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed a piece of the $4.5 billion in unclaimed property being held by the Treasury. The average value of a claim is $1,600. Since 2021 the Treasury has returned more than $700 million in unclaimed property. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
