By Jason Scheer
Carolyn Anderson, 62, is charged with bilking the government out of $4,480, according to Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon.
On March 3, Dillon and New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Linda Angello announced the completion of an unemployment fraud sweep. The other area residents arrested were Linda Moore, 57, of Long Beach; Roseann Rice, 40, of Merrick; and Georges A. Curtiss, 36, of Baldwin. According to Dillon, they stole $6,336, $5,565 and $5,670, respectively.
The 11 defendants stole a combined total of $59,398.75 in funds earmarked to assist out-of-work citizens.
"Unemployment fraud is not a victimless crime," said Dillon. "Business owners throughout Nassau County 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."
According to Dillon, the defendants were collecting unemployment benefits while employed at other businesses. All 11 have been charged with third-degree grand larceny, punishable by up to seven years in prison, and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, punishable by up to four years in prison.
Angello said, "The Department of Labor is committed to protecting the interests of New York's businesses and workers, and we will aggressively seek out those who engage in fraudulent activity and make sure that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Comments about this story? JScheer@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
