CT man gets prison for scheme to steal almost $800K in pandemic unemployment benefits

A Waterbury man was sentenced to four years in federal prison this week for stealing almost $800K in pandemic unemployment benefits, officials said.

Olajuwon Harrington, also known as “OJ Harrington,” 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to four years in prison followed by two years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

According to court records, over an almost two-year period, Harrington reportedly submitted numerous fraudulent applications to the Connecticut Department of Labor for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance using identifying information of victims without their knowledge, court records said.

The Department of Labor then awarded the funds in the form of debit cards in the names of approximately 43 victims and mailed them to the addresses in the applications. According to court records, Harrington unlawfully obtained those debit cards issued in victims’ names and used the cards for his benefit.

Harrington was arrested on a criminal complaint on Nov. 30, 2022, and pleaded guilty to access device fraud on May 10, 2023, officials said.

Williams also ordered Harrington to pay restitution of $793,254.