Seasonal Workers at Harrison Golf Club Accused of Fraud

HARRISON, NY — Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty and New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Rearden jointly announced that six people have been arraigned and charged with the theft of unemployment benefits connected to when they were working at the Century Golf Club in Purchase.

Between 2011 and 2015 each claimed unemployment benefits from the New York State Department of Labor by having others falsely certifying online that they were present in the country when in fact they were overseas. A person must be present in the United States as an additional eligibility requirement in order to receive unemployment benefits.

Michael Gonzales (DOB 10/28/71) of 124 Carteret Street, Linden, New Jersey was arraigned on a felony complaint charging him with:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony and
• one count of Offering A False Instrument For Filing in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony.

Severino Livramento (DOB 09/20/56) of 233 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, New York was arraigned on a felony complaint charging him with:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony and
• one count of Offering A False Instrument For Filing in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony.

Edgardo Villanueva (DOB 03/20/64) of 239 East Putnam Avenue, Cos Cob, Connecticut was arraigned on a felony complaint charging him with:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony and
• one count of Offering A False Instrument For Filing in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony.

Danilo Martinez (DOB 11/26/51) of 233 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, New York was arraigned on a felony complaint charging him with:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony and
• one count of Offering A False Instrument For Filing in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony.

Jose Noguera (DOB 01/21/52) of 21 Elinor Place, Yonkers New York was arraigned on a felony complaint charging him with:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony and
• one count of Offering A False Instrument For Filing in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony.

Ronilda De La Cruz (DOB 03/10/64) of 6 Grant Street, Rye Brook, New York was arraigned on a felony complaint charging him with:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony and
• one count of Offering A False Instrument For Filing in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony.

At the time these crimes took place, all six were working as seasonal workers at the Century Golf Club in Purchase, New York. Gonzales worked as a waiter; Livramento as a laundry room attendant; Villanueva as a locker room attendant; Martinez as a golf course attendant; Noguera as a kitchen attendant and De La Cruz as a housekeeping attendant.

The New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations Unit initiated the investigation and received assistance from the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office who in turn received complete cooperation from the Century Golf Club, prosecutors said.

The total amount of unemployment benefits stolen collectively was $109,032, prosecutors said.

The defendants pleaded not guilty. They were released on their own recognizance, and as a condition thereof, had to surrender their passports and sign an agreement that they would return to court.

Their next court date is December 8, 2016.

Assistant District Attorney Nicole Gamble of the Investigations Division is prosecuting the case.