Unemployment Fraud

Charged With Unemployment Fraud? Contact an Albany Criminal Defense Lawyer

Talk to an Albany criminal defense lawyer immediately if you have been accused of acts such as the following:

• Misrepresentation of who you are (name, Social Security number, current address) and employment information
• Lying about looking for work in order to meet requirements for receiving unemployment insurance benefits.
• Failing to report all income earned or received while obtaining unemployment insurance benefits.
• As an employer, providing intentionally misleading employment information on any of your employees or about the wages earned

If you are accused of unemployment fraud, a lawyer with experience and knowledge in white collar criminal defense can help mitigate the damage. You may still be required to repay benefits obtained under false pretenses, but a skilled criminal defense lawyer in Albany may succeed at keeping you out of jail or keeping you free of a criminal record at all.

Authorities Cracking Down on Unemployment Insurance Fraud

According to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, unemployment insurance fraud cost the federal government $3.3 billion in 2011. The majority of those losses were a result of concealed earnings fraud, perpetrated by individuals who collected unemployment benefits despite being gainfully employed. Nearly two-thirds of total unemployment insurance overpayments came from concealed earnings fraud.

As a result of the financial damage inflicted on the government and taxpayers, it is not surprising that both federal and New York State prosecutors are cracking down on unemployment fraud in Albany and surrounding areas. In many cases, illegally claiming unemployment insurance leads to criminal charges and serious prison time.

Between 1998 and 2012, the NYC Department of Investigation (DOI) arrested 122 New York City employees who illegally collected more than $430,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. Many of these employees obtained unemployment insurance payments through concealed earnings fraud, claiming to be unemployed even while they were actively working for an NYC department.

Manhattan prosecutors are particularly vigilant when going after government employees who engage in unemployment fraud. In 2013, the New York State Department of Labor, in a collaborative investigation with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General, charged 60 USPS employees with collecting more than $425,000 in unemployment insurance benefits through concealed earnings fraud.

Speak to an Experienced Albany Criminal Defense Lawyer for Free Today

The burden of proof is on prosecutors who seek to penalize you for alleged unemployment fraud. A lawyer with a proven track record is an invaluable ally when you face criminal charges of fraud in connection with unemployment benefit claims, workers’ compensation claims or any type of insurance fraud.

Unemployment fraud charges may mean that you will not receive further unemployment benefits — and you may go to prison. Don’t take chances by waiting until it’s too late. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your unemployment fraud matter, call our law office at  518-363-6293 or email us directly.