Two Arizona Department of Economic Security employees have been convicted of receiving bribes to approve unemployment insurance claims.
Jacqueline Espino, 53, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty last week to one count of Bribery Concerning a Program that Receives Federal Funds.
In a separate case, Brandilyn Lorenzen, 48, of Gilbert, was sentenced on January 22, 2025, to 30 months in prison for Bribery Concerning a Program that Receives Federal Funds.
Lorenzen was also ordered to pay over $2.9 million in restitution. Lorenzen pleaded guilty to that charge on November 6, 2024.
Both Espino and Lorenzen were employed by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) as adjudicators who evaluated claims for both unemployment insurance (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Between 2020 and 2022, when DES was facing a higher volume of UI and PUA claims as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Espino and Lorenzen each accepted bribes to approve UI and PUA claims for individuals who were not qualified to receive such assistance. In addition, both Espino and Lorenzen admitted that they embezzled large sums money from DES for their own benefit and for the others.
Espino admitted in her plea agreement that she received bribes related to 9 UI/PUA claims, which caused DES to pay $140,298 in claims that were not properly adjudicated by DES. During the same period of time, Espino also embezzled $600,672 in DES funds for her own benefit and others.
Lorenzen admitted in her plea agreement that she received bribes related to 24 UI/PUA claims, which caused DES to pay $532,964 in claims that were not properly adjudicated by DES. During the same period of time, Lorenzen also embezzled $2,461,520 in DES funds for her own benefit and others. At her sentencing, Lorenzen was ordered to pay $2,994,484 in restitution to DES.
We need DOGE in DES & AHCCCS, Arizona tried that back with Director Jeffries, but the then Governor lead by his Chief of Staff’s Kirk Adams suddenly woke up one day with weak knees and fired Jefferies.
having ‘just’ had a claim go through the process – one which was against us – it really depends on ‘who’ the agent that you deal with is.. there are some good – some that shouldn’t be in the position they are in. The information transfer from one to the next of information.. only as good as the ‘agent’ using the information ; lazy agent – start the spoon feeding over again… Good luck