A former contingent worker and another person were indicted in Franklin County, Ohio, on fraud charges related to the government’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. The Ohio Office of the Inspector General reported the indictment last month, though an attorney for the contingent said he is innocent.

The incidents described resulted in approximately $6.8 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program funds being improperly disbursed, according to the department. The program expanded and loosened eligibility unemployment requirements for recipients during Covid-19.

One of those indicted was Andrew Kerobo, 25, who worked as a seasonal teleservices representative for Randstad and was supervised by Harte Hanks, according to government documents.

Kerobo’s employment with Randstad started on June 22, 2020, and he was terminated 75 days later on Sept. 5, 2020, according to government records. However, Kerobo’s login credentials for the Pandemic Unemployment system database were not deactivated, and he continued to log into the system and make changes to and adjudicate claims until Dec. 10, 2020, the department says.

Kerobo accessed 448 claims and released approximately $6.8 million in fraudulent funds, according to government documents.

He has entered pleas of not guilty.

“Mr. Kerobo is innocent and looks forward to his day in court,” Attorney Clyde Bennett II wrote in a statement to SIA.

A second defendant, Deonta Belser, 25, crowdsourced claimants for Kerobo, who in turn used his login credentials to improperly release Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds, according to the department. Both Belser and Kerobo then allegedly received payment from claimants of a percentage of funds that were improperly released.

In addition, 15 others were also in the indictment.

Belser also entered pleas of not guilty. The name of an attorney for Belser was not available in court records.

Kerobo and Belser were teammates in 2018 on the Highland Community College Men’s varsity football team in Highland, Kansas, according to government documents. Belser moved back to his hometown of Cincinnati in 2020.

Harte Hanks and Randstad have also been contacted.