Press Release

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DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOINS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO ANNOUNCE 11 ARRESTS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD

February 5, 2004 – Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. joined New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Linda Angello today to announce the arrests of 11 Staten Islanders for allegedly collecting unemployment checks from the Department of Labor, while continuing
to earn wages elsewhere.

“I want to thank the Department of Labor for bringing these crimes to our attention, so that these defendants can be held accountable,” said District Attorney Donovan. “This investigationhas uncovered 14 individuals who are charged with having criminally manipulated the system, taking advantage of honest, hard-working taxpayers. This kind of theft will not be tolerated by this administration.”

State Labor Commissioner Linda Angello said, “Over the past three years, the combined efforts of the Labor Department and the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office have resulted in more than $200,000 in restitution to the unemployment insurance trust fund. We will continue to crack down on those who egregiously defraud the unemployment insurance system to make certain that the guilty are held accountable for their actions.”

Each defendant will be charged with Grand Larceny in the third degree, a D felony, and faces a maximum of 7 years if convicted.

Under the direction of Lt. Frank DeBenedetto and Sgt. James Burke of the District Attorney’s Detective Squad, the 11 arrests were made by Detectives Gerard Eick, Robert Nestel, Terence Bennett, Thomas Eagers and Mike DiBenedetto. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Karen Varriale, under the direction of Investigations Bureau Chief Mario Mattei and Deputy Bureau Chief Janet Silvers.

Each defendant will be arraigned in Criminal Court this afternoon. The public is reminded that an arrest is merely an accusation, and that every defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.