AL Dept. of Labor obtains convitions for unemployment compensation fruad | Crime

Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees announced today that the Department has successfully prosecuted several Alabamians for unemployment compensation fraud. The following individuals were charged with violating the Alabama Unemployment Compensation Law by making false statements in claims for benefits:

Adam L. Stephens, of Birmingham, was tried in Jefferson County District Court on Jan. 10, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Stephens received a total of $3,344 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Stephens pled guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in jail, which was suspended, and 24 months of unsupervised probation. He was also ordered to pay a $100 fine, court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Nicole L. McIntyre, of Birmingham, was tried in Jefferson County District Court on Jan. 10, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that McIntyre received a total of $1,873 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

McIntyre pled guilty and was sentenced to serve 12 months in jail, which was suspended, and 24 months of unsupervised probation. She was also fined $100 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Ronald Seymour, of Delta, was tried in Clay County District Court on Jan. 8, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Seymour received a total of $2,915 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Seymour pled guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, suspended for two years pending restitution. He was also ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Farry L. Griffin, of Lineville, was tried in Clay County District Court on Jan. 8, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Griffin received a total of $3,192 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Griffin pled guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution. He was also fined $100 and required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Michael McLemore, of Lineville, was tried in Clay County District Court on Jan. 8, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that McLemore received a total of $4,903 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

McLemore pled guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution. He was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Latrista D. Cox, of Tallassee, was tried in Elmore County District Court on Jan. 10, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Cox received a total of $1,505 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Cox pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which was suspended for two years, and given two years of unsupervised probation. She was also fined $50 and required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Tabitha L. Johnson, of Calera, was tried in Shelby County District Court on Jan. 14, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Johnson received a total of $8,864 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Johnson pled guilty and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution, and two years of unsupervised probation. She was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Frank J. Wilson, of Selma, was tried in Dallas County District Court on Jan. 9, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Wilson received a total of $1,325 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Wilson pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution. He was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Corey Glenn, of Alexander City, was tried in Tallapoosa County District Court on Jan. 14, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Glenn received a total of $5,784 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Glenn pled guilty and was sentenced to twelve months in jail, which was suspended for one year pending restitution. He was also required to pay court costs and restitution in
the amount of benefits received illegally.

Phillip Douglas Jr., of Valley, was tried in Chambers County District Court on Jan. 15, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Douglas received a total of $1,630 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Douglas pled guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail, which was suspended pending restitution, and placed on probation. He was required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Tabby Spradlin, of Valley, was tried in Chambers County District Court on Jan. 15, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Spradlin received a total of $10,287 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Spradlin pled guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail, which was suspended pending restitution, and placed on probation. She was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Justin W. Maske, of Notasulga, was tried in Tallapoosa County District Court on Jan. 29, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Maske received a total of $4,080 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Maske pled guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution. He was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Zachary J. Morgan, of Birmingham, was tried in Jefferson County District Court on Jan. 29, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Morgan received a total of $8,190 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Morgan pled guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution. He was fined $100 and required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Reginald Caldwell, of Birmingham, was tried in Jefferson County District Court on Jan. 30, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Caldwell received a total of $1,142 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Caldwell pled guilty and was sentenced to twelve months in jail, suspended for two years pending restitution. He was also fined $100 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

“We at the Alabama Department of Labor want people to know that we are aggressively pursuing cases of unemployment compensation fraud,” said Surtees. “Especially in these economic times, we want to make sure that all who are entitled to benefits receive them. But at the same time, we will not allow those who deliberately try to defraud the system to go unpunished. We are working with local District Attorney Offices to make sure that we can identify and prosecute those individuals who are committing these crimes.”

Suspected unemployment compensation fraud may be reported to the Alabama Department of Labor by calling 1-800-392-8019.

Source:  Alabama Department of Labor