Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) have announced a successful initiative aimed at investigating and prosecuting unemployment fraud cases in New Jersey. The effort has resulted in charges against 20 defendants across 10 counties, suspected of collectively stealing over $1.1 million from the state's unemployment insurance trust fund.

Platkin emphasized the impact of unemployment insurance fraud on taxpayers and those who genuinely rely on the program, stating, "Unemployment insurance fraud directly affects taxpayers in New Jersey, as well as those who rely on this program during times of need." He further added, "We are dedicated to protecting these programs from fraud, ensuring that they remain available to those who truly need it."

J. Stephen Ferketic, Director of DCJ, highlighted their commitment to safeguarding the state's Treasury and essential programs funded by it, stating, "We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that this type of fraud is vigorously investigated and prosecuted."

Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, underscored the importance of investigating allegations of fraud related to unemployment insurance programs, stating, "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations."

The defendants face various charges, with three individuals facing second-degree theft by deception charges and the remaining 17 facing third-degree theft by deception charges. Some defendants also face additional charges for theft of identity and tampering with public records. These charges are a result of individual investigations where defendants allegedly collected state and federal unemployment benefits to which they were not entitled, with some instances involving identity theft.

The NJDOL, led by Commissioner Rob Asaro-Angelo, actively works to prevent fraudulent payments and recover them when they occur. As part of their fraud prevention efforts, criminal referrals are routinely made to the Division of Criminal Justice.

It is important to note that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The potential consequences for these offenses include imprisonment ranging from three to 10 years and fines up to $150,000, depending on the severity of the charges.

Deputy Attorneys General Jacob Brown and Gezim Bajrami are prosecuting the cases for the Division of Criminal Justice Worker Protection and Fair Labor Enforcement Unit, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Brian Carney and Deputy Director Theresa Hilton.