California Employment Development Department – Investigation Division assisted with investigation

“Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate and follow through with prosecuting those who took advantage of an unprecedented time and an unprecedented need for unemployment benefits by fraudulently obtaining money from public programs meant to assist those who suddenly found themselves without employment due to the pandemic.”

– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SAN DIEGO – On March 28, 2025, Regina Brice, 43, of San Diego and a former employee of the California Employment Development Department, was sentenced in federal court to 66 months in prison for using her position to file $858,339 in fraudulent unemployment claims, effectively stealing money that was intended to give economic relief to people impacted by the pandemic.

According to court documents, Brice was employed by the EDD since 2010. During the pandemic, she was responsible for processing COVID-related unemployment claims. However, between July 2020 and May 2021, Brice exploited her employee access at EDD to manipulate and file fraudulent unemployment claims for her co-conspirators in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribes. These co-conspirators included California prison inmates whom she instructed on how to bypass the system’s fraud checking software to obtain the money.

“This defendant turned her back on the oath of her office and those she was supposed to help during a once-in-a-century pandemic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Today she is being held accountable for her greed.”

“Former California Employment Development Department (EDD) Employment Program Representative Regina Brice filed fraudulent and manipulated unemployment insurance (UI) claims in exchange for kickbacks, diverting vital taxpayer resources away from unemployed American workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG). “Brice violated the public trust afforded to her as an EDD employee to enrich herself and others. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the integrity of the UI program for those who need it. This sentencing demonstrates DOL-OIG’s commitment to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in DOL programs.”

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General

Department of Homeland Security – Office of the Inspector General

United States Postal Inspector Service

California Employment Development Department – Investigation Division