Area individuals among those charged for illegally collecting state unemployment benefits
ALBANY, N.Y. - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the arrests of 30 former and current New York State employees who allegedly obtained unemployment benefits illegally while on State payroll.
Eight individuals from the Albany area were arrested as part of the Attorney Generals statewide sweep over the past week, targeting abuses of the financially strapped New York State unemployment system. In New Yorks current fiscal crisis, the unemployment insurance fund provides much-needed financial relief to thousands of New Yorkers who have lost their jobs. According to complaints filed in Albany County over the past week, these eight defendants stole thousands of dollars from New York State by falsely certifying that they were qualified for unemployment insurance benefits through the Department of Labors electronic certification process. Arrests were also made last week in New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Dutchess, Rockland and Westchester Counties. New Yorks unemployment insurance fund was created to help hard-working individuals who find themselves out of a job get back on their feet, said Attorney General Cuomo. In this economic climate, the fund is more important than ever, and we cannot allow it to be depleted through fraud, waste and abuse. Individuals who attempt to undermine the safety net we provide for New Yorkers will be held accountable. In order to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits in New York, an individual must truthfully certify by phone or Internet, on a weekly basis, that he or she has not worked more than four days that week or earned more than $405 that week. The New York State Department of Labor has a system in place to routinely cross-check State employees against individuals receiving unemployment benefits. According to the Attorney Generals Office, the eight defendants all lied to the Department of Labor and falsely certified that they were eligible for benefits. Several of the defendants are accused of falsely certifying their ineligibility to work for 15 or more consecutive weeks, stealing thousands of dollars from New Yorks unemployment insurance fund. The following individuals from the Albany area were arrested by the Attorney Generals Office over the past week: Kira S. Young, 27, of Albany, NY Jamie Viola, 31, of Latham, NY Jean Davis, 53, of Albany, NY Greg Askilden, 53, of Palenville, NY Tracy Barber, 26, of Rome, NY Wayne Earing, 36, of Rensselaer, NY Deborah Girgenti, 55, of Rensselaer, NY Charles McMillan, 53, of Hartwick, NY The various charges brought against the 30 individuals across the State include Grand Larceny in the Third and Fourth Degrees (D and E felonies), Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree (E Felony) and Petit Larceny (A misdemeanor). Defendants charged with D felonies may be sentenced to up to seven years in prison while those charged with E felonies face up to four years incarceration. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The Attorney General thanked the New York State Department of Labor for their help during the initial investigation. The case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Jessica E. Silver of the Attorney Generals Public Integrity Bureau, with a team of Assistant Attorneys General, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Monica Stamm of the Public Integrity Bureau and Deputy Bureau Chief Richard Ernst of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau. The investigation was handled by Investigator Mike Ward under the supervision of Assistant Chief Investigator David Adams and Internal Security Specialist Michelle Martone with the New York State Department of Labor. |
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