By:Jason Scheer
Unemployment fraud affects countless businesses throughout the county and state, and, according to the New York State Department of Labor, costs business owners millions of dollars in unemployment taxes every year. "Unemployment fraud is not a victimless crime," said District Attorney Denis Dillon. "Business owners have been paying higher unemployment tax rates because of individuals collecting benefits that they were not entitled to receive. Ultimately, this type of criminal activity results in higher costs for all consumers."
Twenty-five people were charged with fraud by the county's Criminal Frauds Bureau, including Valley Stream resident Freddy Enderica, 25, who was named in Dillon's report for taking $5,717.25. The district attorney's office has also issued a warrant for the arrest of Sally Benhar, of Valley Stream, who is said to have collected $4,455.
Dillon said that defendants stole a total of $160,663.50 in state funds designed to assist people who are out of work.
Brian Sonbridge, a representative of the New York State Department of Labor, explained that all of those arrested held jobs while still collecting unemployment benefits. "Once we got the information that [the suspects] were employed, we connected the dots [and confirmed] they were collecting money illegally," he said.
All of the suspects face charges of third-degree grand larceny, a class D felony punishable by up to seven years in prison, and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a class E felony punishable by up to four years in prison.
Among those charged were two Freeport residents, Daniel Crow, 42, and Leroy Shepherd, 40, who reportedly collected $4,623 and $5,265, respectively. Two East Meadow residents, John Cornell, 53, and Dennis Dioguardi, 57, are believed to have collected $3,700 and $7,998.75. Merrick resident Anthony Scarabino, 35, is charged with taking $4,050. Two West Hempstead residents, Wanda Stuart, 45, and William Richardson Jr., 32, who, the bureau charges, collected $3,536 and $3,519, respectively, were charged. Robert Giugliano, 49, of Franklin Square, allegedly collected $11,036.25, while Adelaida Savooz-Weiss, 32, of Elmont, was identified as having taken $11,430.
Others arrested in the sweep included Maureen Abramson, 43, of East Atlantic Beach, who was charged with collecting $6,580. And Andres Posada, 30, of Westbury, was receiving unemployment benefits from his former job at Greenfield Industries Inc. while collecting nearly $1,400 a week from his current job, the report alleges.
The most egregious offender was Arthur Pastore, 45, of New Hyde Park. It is alleged that he fraudulently collected $13,061.25.
David Bolles, an unemployment insurance prosecutor for the Department of Labor, said that the recent sweeps are part of an ongoing joint effort of the county and the department. The investigation has resulted in 175 arrests to date, totaling over $1 million in benefit misuse. He vowed that the collaborative effort would continue to bring down those who take advantage of the unemployment system.
"If you are going to continue to work and collect at the same time," Bolles said, "we're going to get you."
