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Maine Inmate Collected Jobless Aid From Prison

PORTLAND, Maine — A Maine man who collected unemployment benefits while behind bars is going back to prison.

Joshua Harwood was sentenced to serve 30 days of a 2 {-year prison term after he was convicted of theft by deception for fraudulently receiving thousands of dollars in unemployment insurance payments while he was incarcerated for a prior conviction.

The 35-year-old Harwood, of Georgetown, was also ordered to pay more than $9,000 in restitution, which includes interest and penalties.

Julie Rabinowitz, a spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Labor, tells the Portland Press Herald that the state implemented a prisoner cross-match database system two years ago that allows it to identify inmates who are receiving or trying to apply for unemployment benefits.