Sanford Woman Sentenced for Theft of Government Money

PORTLAND, Maine: A Sanford woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for theft of government money.

U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., sentenced Cori Godin, 47, to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Godin was also ordered to pay $37,105 in restitution. Godin pleaded guilty on November 18, 2025.

According to court records, Godin falsely claimed to be unemployed in order to receive unemployment insurance benefits, including federally funded benefits intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment insurance is a joint state and federal program that provides monetary benefits to eligible beneficiaries. Payments are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to lawful workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Beginning in about March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded unemployment insurance eligibility and benefits. For a period of approximately 13 months in 2020 and 2021, Godin falsely claimed to be unemployed and received approximately $37,105 in benefits.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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