Norwich Man Accused Of Unemployment Compensation Fraud

NORWICH, CT — A 44-year-old Norwich man was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community after he illegally collected nearly $10,000 in Unemployment Compensation benefits, according to the Office of the Chief State's Attorney.

Raul Betancourt, Jr., of Kenney Avenue, was arrested by Inspectors from the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, and was also charged with 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 the Chief State's Attorney's office. "According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Betancourt fraudulently collected approximately $9,575 in unemployment benefits from July 2016 through October 2016 when, in fact, he was working for a Norwich furniture store and earning wages."

Betancourt was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on May 8. The charges are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty.

According to authorities, first-degree larceny 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 fraud in the Unemployment Compensation program. It is financed with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.

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