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| AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File |
A former Seattle 911 police communications supervisor has secured an $875,000 settlement from the City of Seattle following her termination over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Marina Shinderuk, a 14-year veteran of the Seattle Police Department, was terminated from her position in November 2021 after refusing to get the COVID vaccine - despite receiving a religious exemption from the city's vaccine mandate.
"I'm just relieved that it's over. It's been a really long time, and I get to actually feel like I'm enjoying life again. And I've always said... it was not in pursuit of money. It was in pursuit of doing something to make a point," Shinderuk told KOMO News.
Shinderuk, who began her career as a tele-communicator and was promoted to police communications supervisor in 2019, considered herself a dedicated employee.
She alleged that the city enforced the vaccine mandate with zero tolerance, disregarding what she believed were her legally protected religious beliefs.
In August 2021, when the vaccine mandate was announced, Shinderuk applied for and received a religious exemption.
The city initially promised accommodations such as masks, distancing, and testing, which she agreed to, but later reneged, Shinderuk claimed
"I remember when it got approved at the end of September, I got this huge sense of relief, like, 'Oh, okay, I don't have to worry about it'. Thank God, you know, literally, because I've been praying about it a lot, and it was a big weight on me. So then only a couple weeks later, to be told, 'Oh yeah, tomorrow's your last day. 'That's it. It was just, it was surreal," Shinderuk said. --->READ MORE HERE
A Missouri City man has admitted to pocketing a hefty $1.65 million through fraudulent loan applications aimed at COVID-19 relief funds, according to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei's office. The 42-year-old, Shawn Nicholas Young, was involved in a wire fraud conspiracy that exploited the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, both of which were under the management of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and intended to provide a lifeline to struggling small businesses during the pandemic.
Young's play, as it unfolded, wasn't sophisticated in nature but was successful in its execution. As reported by the Department of Justice, he submitted over 100 fraudulent loan applications, aiming for more than $9.5 million in relief funds by manipulating business information, drafting fake tax returns, and inventing backdated documents to support his claims. He kept the scheme going until he was caught, taking money meant for struggling small businesses during the global financial crisis. This scheme also saw Young receive kickbacks from those who secured loans through his fraudulent efforts, further padding his ill-gotten gains.
The cost of Young's greed goes beyond money—it’s a betrayal of the community’s trust. This act follows his plea agreement that compels him to make full restitution to the victims and to forfeit his house and car—assets presumably bought with the laundered success of his conspiracy. A federal judge will seal Young's fate on October 27 when he faces a possible 20-year federal prison sentence and up to a $250,000 fine, a day of reckoning set by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt; meanwhile, Young remains on bond. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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