Meriden Man Illegally Collected Nearly $12K In Unemployment: DOL

MERIDEN, CT — A Meriden man is accused of fraudulently collecting nearly $12,000 in unemployment benefits while he was employed, according to authorities. Nazario J. Matero III, 32, of Miller Street, was arrested Wednesday by Inspectors from the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and charged with one count each of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and unemployment compensation fraud.

The arrest is the result of an investigation into a complaint by the Connecticut Department of Labor, which administers the Unemployment Compensation program, according to a press release from the Division of Criminal Justice.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Mateo fraudulently collected approximately $11,550 in unemployment benefits from February through July 2014 when, in fact, he was employed.

Mateo was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on June 5.

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.

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