Keebler employees filed false reports to receive unemployment benefits

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Federal indictments were returned Thursday charging that eight people who worked for Keebler Company in Kansas City, Kan., fraudulently received unemployment benefits, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

In September, similar indictments were filed against 16 people who worked for Keebler.

The new indictments allege that while working for Keebler each of the defendants received unemployment benefits by submitting false reports to the Kansas Department of Labor.

Defendants, who are charged in separate indictments with one count each of theft of government funds and one count of bank fraud, include the following:

• Anthony Quiroga, Jr., 48, Shawnee, Kan., who is alleged to have fraudulently received $13,105.

• Brian Parker, 51, Grandview, Mo., who is alleged to have fraudulently received $19,966.

• Darren Coby, 52, Kansas City, Kan., who is alleged to have fraudulently received $10,824.

• Darren Lewis, 46, Kansas City, Mo., who is alleged to have fraudulently received $11,100.

• Jerry Jenkins, 51, Linwood, Kan., who is alleged to have fraudulently received $10,738.

• Keith Holmes, 43, Kansas City, Mo., who is alleged to have fraudulently received $17,325.

• Tammye Hill, 46, Kansas City, Mo., who is alleged to have fraudulently received $10,439.

• Terry Richardson, 39, Kansas City, Mo., who is alleged to have received $10,682.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the theft of government funds, and a maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on the bank fraud charge.

The Kansas Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.