Kentucky man claimed inability to work, but jury says he stole $100K in unemployment

A Kentucky veteran who claimed he couldn't work but ran a veterans organization has been convicted of stealing more than $100,000 in unemployment money.

A jury in federal court convicted Jeremy Wayne Harrell, 43, of Shelbyville, of theft of government benefits on Aug. 23, according to the U.S. Department of Justice .

Harrell served in the U.S. Army from February 2003 to April 2024 and later in the Army Reserves, and began receiving unemployment benefits in 2011, according to the court record.

In 2019, Harrell founded Veterans Club Inc., and served as its chief executive officer. The organization was set up to help veterans with needs such as housing and vocational training, according to the court record.

Harrell allegedly claimed that symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder caused him to be withdrawn and more comfortable staying home, and so limited his ability to work.

During that time, however, he gave media interviews, spoke at community events, met with business, political and community members, taught classes and appeared on podcasts, a grand jury charged.

Harrell spent more than 40 hours a week at times on Veterans Club Inc. business, showing he was capable of holding down a job, federal authorities said.

He did not take a salary, but received $108,000 in unemployment payments from 2019 through 2023.

"He provided false information to the government, which concealed his ineligibility, and he wrongfully obtained a significant amount funds — funds that should have been provided to other veterans who were eligible for this assistance," U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV said in a news release.

Harrell faces up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case.