East Hampton Man Charged With Larceny, Unemployment Compensation Fraud

An East Hampton man was arrested Friday, Aug. 21, and charged with illegally collecting more than $12,000 in unemployment compensation benefits.

Shawn A. Wolak, 49, of 5 Colchester Avenue, East Hampton, was charged with one count each of Larceny in the First Degree by Defrauding a Public Community and Unemployment Compensation Fraud, according to a press release from the State of Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney following a complaint by the Connecticut Department of Labor. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Wolak fraudulently collected approximately $12,141 in unemployment benefits from January through August 2013.

The unemployment benefits were collected by Wolak when, in fact, he was employed.Unemployment benefits have been designated as economic support for individuals who have become unemployed through no fault of their own. The benefits are funded by employers doing business in Connecticut.

Wolak was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 25, 2015, in Superior Court, G.A. No. 15, New Britain. The charges against Wolak are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty.

Larceny in the First Degree by Defrauding a Public Community is a Class B felony punishable by not less than one year nor more than 20 years in prison and/or up to a $15,000 fine. Unemployment Compensation Fraud in excess of $500 is a Class D felony punishable by not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine.

The case is being prosecuted by the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit, which was established under a partnership between the Division of Criminal Justice and the Department of Labor to investigate and prosecute alleged fraud in the unemployment compensation program. It is financed with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.

(image via shutterstock)