3 years and counting: Florida hints at mystery account in benefits case

Investigators tell News 6 they were aware of situation

ORLANDO, Fla. – A Florida woman waiting three years for unemployment benefits wired from the state Department of Commerce to her bank account said the state continues to tell her, “They are working on it.”

Lolita Miranda-Issac, a former medical supply store employee now training to be a flight attendant with Frontier Airlines, told News 6 her account shows no record of deposits on the dates the state claims to have sent the funds on Oct. 22 and Oct. 26, 2021.

“I don’t know where the money is,” Miranda-Issac told News 6. “A state employee said there is a third account, she would not tell me the name, (account) number, nothing!”

Investigators with the Department of Commerce in Tallahassee told News 6 they were aware of the situation and are working on it.

News 6 has been working to unravel the mystery since Dec. 19, 2023. We were assured the funds would be issued.

An examination of the state records by News 6 shows the funds were supposed to be wired to a Vystar Credit Union account that matches Miranda-Issac account in October 2021, but Vystar records do not show any deposits received from the state before or after the dates in question.

“If there’s another account out there and it’s not my name, has nothing to do with me or my husband, then I shouldn’t be waiting‚” she said. “They will not reveal the name on the account, won’t even tell me the name of the bank, nothing!”

Miranda-Issac said she did have a theory that since there was a surge in identity fraud in 2020 and 2021, someone could have gotten into the account using a stolen identity,

“It (state records) shows the deposit, but it did not hit my account,” Miranda- Issac said. “I believe whatever this mystery account is, it’s probably in that account, but it didn’t go to me.”

Miranda-Issac told News 6 she was laid off on March 1, 2021, and that every employee has received full unemployment benefits with one exception: her.

The state has assured News 6 that staff members are working to resolve the issue.


Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:


About the Author

News 6’s Emmy Award-winning Investigative Reporter Mike Holfeld has made Central Florida history with major investigations that have led to new policies, legislative proposals and even -- state and national laws. If you have an issue or story idea, call Mike's office at 407-521-1322.

Recommended Videos