Rockville Centre Man Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Fraud

A Rockville Centre man pleaded guilty Monday to fraudulently receiving $16,042.50 in unemployment benefits while he was working as a carpenter for a Suffolk County company, Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said.

Joseph Chieffo, 31, pleaded guilty before Nassau County District Court Judge Valerie Alexander to one count of petty larceny and one count of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He is due back in court for sentencing on Dec. 7. It is anticipated that Chieffo will be sentenced to probation and restitution in the amount of $16,042.50 paid back to the New York State Department of Labor, Singas said.

Chieffo is one of nine people accused of fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits who were arrested by the District Attorney’s Office in July and August. The eight other cases are still pending.

“Unemployment benefits are an important safety net to help people who have lost their jobs, but unfortunately some people try to steal from the state,” Singas said. “Defrauding the Department of Labor is an extraordinarily foolish thing to do, because inevitably you will be caught and prosecuted.”

Between March 5, 2012 and March 10, 2013, the Chieffo received $16,042.50 in unemployment benefits, Singas said. During that same time, Chieffo worked as a carpenter for a Bohemia-based company, earning approximately $41,133.85, the DA said.

The false filings were discovered when the Telephone Call Center – a unit of the New York State Department of Labor – conducted a cross match of Chieffo’s wage report and his benefit payments, indicating that he was employed while collecting benefits and claiming to be unemployed, Singas said.

When Chieffo was arrested, he was also found in possession of a controlled substance, she said.