RVC man pleads guilty to unemployment fraud

Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Rockville Centre man pleaded guilty on Monday for fraudulently receiving $16,042.50 in unemployment benefits, while working as a carpenter for a Suffolk County company.

Joseph Chieffo, 31, pleaded guilty before Nassau County District Court Judge Valerie Alexander to one count of Petit Larceny (an A misdemeanor) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree (an A misdemeanor). He is due back in court for sentencing on De. 7. It is anticipated that Chieffo will be sentenced to probation and restitution in the amount of $16,042.50 paid back to the New York State Department of Labor.

Chieffo is one of nine defendants accused of fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits who were arrested by the District Attorney’s Office in July and August. The eight other cases are still pending.

“Unemployment benefits are an important safety net to help people who have lost their jobs, but unfortunately some people try to steal from the state,” Singas said. “Defrauding the Department of Labor is an extraordinarily foolish thing to do, because inevitably you will be caught and prosecuted.”

Singas said that between March 5, 2012 and March 10, 2013, Chieffo received $16,042.50 in unemployment benefits. During that same time Chieffo worked as a carpenter for a Bohemia-based company, earning approximately $41,133.85. The false filings were discovered when the Telephone Call Center — a unit of the New York State Department of Labor — conducted a cross match of Chieffo’s wage report and his benefit payments, indicating that he was employed while collecting benefits and claiming to be unemployed. When Chieffo was arrested he was also found in possession of a controlled substance.

The cases were referred to the District Attorney’s office by the State Department of Labor, which assisted in the prosecutions.