Officials say that a former claims manager for the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has been sentenced in a COVID-19 fraud scheme.

A former member of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after a scheme designed to award pandemic-era benefits to people submitting false claims.

Two people, including an employee of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, have been charged for their alleged role in a $1.8 million unemployment insurance fraud scheme. His duties included reviewing, processing and verifying the legitimacy of unemployment insurance claims. Beginning in May, 2020, it is alleged that Rose used his insider access to release payment on hundreds of fraudulent claims. Rose attempted to override another $761,000 in fraudulent unemployment claims, but the State was able to prevent payment on those additional claims. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, and the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

A Michigan unemployment worker has been charged with stealing money from the states Unemployment Insurance Agency at a time when thousands of residents are still having trouble getting benefits. More than 1.5 million Michigan residents have filed for unemployment benefits during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but the need is so great that many people have had trouble collecting their payments. READ: FEMA approves Michigan for additional $300 in weekly unemployment paymentsNow, officials are investigating a disturbing new twist: employees on the inside stealing from the UIA. Anyone who steals unemployment funds steals form the people of Michigan.Rose and another employee, Serenity Poynter 36, of Detroit, are accused of filing almost 100 fraudulent unemployment claims. Investigators said they used Poynters name to file the claims and used different social security numbers.