D.A.: 5 Accused of Improperly Collecting Unemployment Benefits

Five Rockland County residents have been arrested in connection with the theft of New York State unemployment benefits, according to District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe and State Labor Commissioner Colleen C. Gardner.

Zugibe  said they are accused of collecting benefits a total of more than $24,300 from the state’s Unemployment Insurance trust fund while earning a paycheck.

Charged with third-degree grand larceny, a felony, are:
Charles Austin, 42, of 2 Palisades Court, Pomona
Mauricio Duarte, 48, of 30 Third St., Hillburn
Robin Group, 49, of 13 Wyndham Court, Nanuet
Hayden Kaufman, 32, of 7 Georgian Drive, Stony Point|
Jayson Joubert, 31, of 19 Hoyt St., Spring Valley

“Unemployment benefits act as a lifeline for those in need during periods of economic instability,” said Zugibe. “These funds will not be fraudulently drained from Rockland County residents who rightfully qualify for assistance.”

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Rockland County Special Investigations Unit and the New York State Department of Labor.

Zugibe said the five Rocklanders are charged with either falsely certifying that they were not working, or lying about the number of hours they had worked. He said they were working in a variety of occupations including retail sales, occupational therapy and sanitation and improperly collected benefits ranging from $3,100 to more than $7,000.

Austin, Group and Kaufman were arraigned in Clarkstown Town Court in New City and Duarte and Joubert were arraigned in Ramapo Town Court in Airmont.