A former employee of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to commit federal program bribery and aggravated identity theft. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., along with officials from the Department of Homeland Security—Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
Janine Rayford, 39, from Redford, entered her plea before Judge Judith E. Levy. According to court records, Rayford accepted over $50,000 in bribes while working at the agency. She admitted to accessing unemployment insurance claims without authorization and dismissing fraud prevention triggers for claims she knew were fraudulent. As a result, more than $2.86 million in unemployment insurance assistance was improperly issued to third-party claimants.
Rayford is scheduled for sentencing on January 8, 2026. She faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence for aggravated identity theft and up to five years for conspiracy to commit federal program bribery.
U.S. Attorney Gorgon stated, “If you’re a public official whose side hustle is taking bribes, your next job will be answering to a judge. Corruption destroys public trust in government and will be aggressively prosecuted by my office.”
Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Great Lakes Region at the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General said: “Former Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency employee, Janine Rayford, abused her position by misusing her access to sensitive employment information and state data systems to defraud the unemployment insurance program for personal financial gain. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who seek to exploit these critical U.S. Department of Labor programs.”
Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Detroit Field Office added: “Today’s guilty plea sends a clear and powerful message that fraud against the United States Government and public officials profiting at the expense of the public will never be tolerated. I would like to thank our FBI Detroit Area Corruption Task Force for their diligent work alongside our federal and state partners to ensure justice is preserved and the public’s trust is protected.”
Jason Palmer, Director of the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency said: “This plea sends a powerful message that no one is above the law, not even those who work for the UIA. Our staff is required to adhere to strict ethics guidelines. Janine Rayford willingly violated that professional code of conduct, betraying her colleagues and the taxpayers of Michigan for her own short-sighted financial gain. We will not tolerate conspirators who selfishly steal from the very people they are supposed to be serving.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind and investigated jointly by several agencies including federal inspectors general offices as well as state authorities.
