unemployment insurance

More than $74,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims discovered in Southern Tier

(PRESS CONNECTS) - State labor officials on Monday said 19 people in the Southern Tier illegally took $74,191 from New York’s unemployment insurance trust fund.

Seven from Broome County were charged in the state investigation and are accused of taking $27,291, said New York Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith.

Others charged include four from Chemung County ($9,144); three from Chenango County ($16,980); four from Steuben County ($17,334) and one from Tompkins County ($3,442). State officials did not identify those charged.

A total of 53 people across central New York have been charged with taking $247,051 in illegal benefits, Smith said.

The labor department worked with district attorneys and law enforcement agencies to investigate the alleged fraud. Most of the people collected unemployment benefits while earning a paycheck, Smith said.

“It is nothing short of shameful to think that people would steal from a fund designed to help families put food on the table, gas in their cars and clothes on the backs of their children,” Smith said.

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