White Collar Crime News

Eight people charged with unemployment fraud October 29, 2009

None of these cases are related, but they are interesting.  The State often releases these indictments in groups and the dollar amounts are usually higher.  These cases have some very low dollar amounts.  Based upon my practice, I guess that these people made no attempt to resolve these matters before indictment.  If you get a notice that you are being investigated, you should call an attorney right away.  Call me anytime to discuss.

TRENTON – Attorney General Anne Milgram announced today that eight people have been charged with cheating the State of New Jersey’s unemployment fund out of a total of $100,487.   The charges resulted from cooperative investigations by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Division of Criminal Justice Major Crimes Bureau.

The Division of Criminal Justice Major Crimes Bureau obtained the following separate state grand jury indictments: 

State v. Marvin Fletcher of Trenton, was charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification to authorities. The indictment alleges that between February 2003 and June 2005, Fletcher was earning wages while he was collecting unemployment insurance benefits. The indictment alleges that Fletcher failed to report the earnings to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and, as a result, allegedly received $26,231 in unemployment insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.

State v. Jackie A. Seton of Trenton, was charged with third-degree theft by deception and unsworn falsification to authorities. The indictment alleges that between June and December 2004, Seton was earning wages while he was collecting unemployment insurance benefits. Seton allegedly failed to notify the Department of Labor and Workforce Development of the earnings and, as a result, allegedly received $6,966 in unemployment insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.

State v. Bobby J. Threats, Jr of Trenton, was charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification to authorities. The indictment alleges that, between September 2004 and December 2007, Threats collected unemployment insurance benefits while he was also earning wages. According to the indictment, by failing to report the earnings to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Threats allegedly received $6,614 in unemployment insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.

State v. Faheem R. Murphy of Willingboro, was charged on Oct. 16 with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification to authorities. Between December 2003 and June 2005, while collecting unemployment insurance benefits, Murphy was allegedly also earning wages. According to the indictment, by not reporting the earnings to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Murphy allegedly received $5,794 in unemployment insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.

State v. Russell Halbach of Belford, was charged on Oct. 14 with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification to authorities. The indictment alleges that between November 2003 and May 2005, Halbach was earning wages while collecting unemployment insurance benefits. According to the indictment, by not reporting the earnings to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Halbach allegedly received $19,970 in unemployment insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.

State v. Ronald Mazotas of Bordentown, was charged in a separate Oct. 14 indictment with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification to authorities. According to the indictment, between December 2004 and May 2005, while he was collecting unemployment insurance benefits, Mazotas was allegedly earning wages. It is charged that, by failing to notify the Department of Labor and Workforce Development of the earnings, Mazotas allegedly collected $8,382 in unemployment insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.

State v. Kiyesha Harden of Vineland, was charged on Oct. 9 with third-degree theft by deception. According to the indictment, between August 2004 and January 2005, Harden was earning wages while collecting unemployment insurance benefits. The indictment alleges that, by not reporting the earnings to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Harden allegedly received $3,942 in unemployment insurance benefits to which she was not entitled.

State v. Adolphine E. Jules of Roselle, was charged on Oct. 1 with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification to authorities. The indictment alleges that between December 2001 and July 2005, Jules earned wages while she was collecting unemployment insurance benefits. The indictment alleges that, by not reporting the earnings to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Jules allegedly collected $22,588 in unemployment insurance benefits to which she was not entitled.