Andrea Wellington, 35, faces 21 counts of wire fraud. Randall Easley, 38, faces 14 counts. The indictment alleges that people recruited into the scheme paid thousands of dollars to have their wage histories changed, then received benefits they were not eligible for.

Wellington was hired in July 2021 through a subcontractor to work as a customer service representative for the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Her job gave her access to the state’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance system, a federal program for gig workers and freelancers who lost work during the COVID-19 pandemic and generally did not qualify for traditional unemployment benefits.

Wellington was fired on Oct. 7, 2021. Prosecutors allege she and Easley began accessing the system two days later to alter wage histories. The indictment says Wellington’s reported prior-year wages were raised three times, from $16,716 to $71,142, resulting in two benefit payments totaling $13,389. Easley’s reported wages allegedly were changed from $76 to $69,380; the indictment does not specify how much he received.

The program provided up to 79 weeks of benefits, with payments based on an applicant’s previous-year wages. Prosecutors allege the changes enabled participants to collect tens of thousands of dollars each in benefits for which they did not qualify.

Wellington and Easley pleaded not guilty at their first court appearance on Oct. 8 and were released on bond. They are scheduled to return to court Oct. 23. Each wire-fraud count carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison if a defendant is convicted.

The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.