New Canaan Dental Hygienist Charged with Collecting $18K in Unemployment Benefits While She Was Employed

WEST HAVEN, CT — A West Haven woman is accused of collecting nearly $18,000 in unemployment compensation benefits while she was working as a dental hygienist in New Canaan, according to authorities.

Christine A. Zampedri, 49, of Prospect Avenue in West Haven, was arrested Wednesday by inspectors from the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and charged with one count each of Larceny in the First Degree 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, according to a press release.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Zampedri is accused of fraudulently collecting approximately $17,860 in unemployment benefits from January through August 2013 when she was working as a dental hygienist in New Canaan.

Zampedri was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on Aug. 30.

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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