Rochester, N.Y. - Twenty-six people have been arrested for defrauding New York State of more than $192,000 in unemployment insurance benefits, according to State Police.
Each person was working while claiming unemployment benefits.
Police don’t believe these individuals were working together.According to the State Department of Labor, this type of crime is happening more often.
New York State Police say the crimes have doubled in the last four to five years.
“We never would see $20,000, $19,000 in unemployment fraud but recently now we're seeing them quite frequently,” said NYSP Sr. investigator Jim Newell.
“We’re getting cases in the office on a daily basis, there are just a large number, it’s a continuous process,” said Paul Turner, Senior Investigator with the State Labor Department.
Turner says this type of fraud can have a negative impact on businesses.
“Tax rates go up when unemployment funds have to pay out unemployment insurance and also the rates increase as the funds become increasingly more insolvent,” Turner said.
The Department of Labor says it’s constantly looking over paperwork for these types of crimes.
Last year Monroe County secured the most money back from unemployment fraud than any other county, more than $172,000.
The 26 people were arrested by State Police and charged with grand larceny, offering false instrument for filing and falsifying business records--all felonies.
One of those charged is a repeat offender, faceing unemployment multiple times; this marks his 100th arrest.
