CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Missouri couple formerly living in Washington, West Virginia, each sentenced to five years of federal probation for unlawfully taking CARES Act money.
Robert Notgrass, 51, and Rhonda Notgrass, 46, from St. Charles, Missouri, both pleaded guilty to theft of government property while Robert Notgrass also admitted to aiding and abetting.
Robert Notgrass was employed as a pastor of a church from before January 1, 2018. He was let go from the position on June 1, 2020.
On August 15, 2020, Rhonda Notgrass applied for pandemic unemployment benefits through WorkForce West Virginia, who administers those benefits in the state. She falsely claimed that she was unemployed as a direct result of a pandemic or major disaster. Robert Notgrass helped his wife complete the application and submitted the letter on her behalf.
Then on September 16, 2020, Rhonda Notgrass received a pandemic unemployment benefits payment of approximately $14,150 from WorkForce West Virginia, which included money from the CARES Act. Rhonda Notgrass admitted that she knew she was not entitled to receive the pandemic unemployment benefit. She admitted to wrongly receiving $12,767 in pandemic unemployment benefits.
The couple has already paid the $26,917 owed in court-ordered restitution.