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New York State Department of Labor

$1.6M Fraud Scheme: Capital Region Man Admits Role In Unemployment Insurance Scam $1.6M Fraud Scheme: Capital Region Man Admits Role In Unemployment Insurance Scam
$1.6M Fraud Scheme: Capital Region Man Admits Role In Unemployment Insurance Scam A man from the region admitted to taking part in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that targeted unemployment insurance benefits. Rensselaer County resident Todd Ward, age 45, of Troy, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) in Albany federal court in late June 2024. Prosecutors said Ward confessed to providing co-conspirator Carl DiVeglia with the personal identifying information of another individual, which DiVeglia then used to file a false claim on the NYSDOL website. Earlier Report: Former State Employee From Albany Pleads Guilty…
‘Is He Serious?’ NY Ice Cream Shop Owner Accused Of Stealing Employees’ Tips ‘Is He Serious?’ NY Ice Cream Shop Owner Accused Of Stealing Employees’ Tips
‘Is He Serious?’ NY Ice Cream Shop Owner Accused Of Stealing Employees’ Tips Social media is abuzz with outrage after a New York mother accused an ice cream shop owner of withholding customer tips that were given to her 15-year-old son and other employees. In a post on a community Facebook page Monday, July 1, the Long Island resident said her son quit his job at the Hauppauge business after the owner allegedly told him he “can’t figure out” how to separate tips that customers paid using a debit or credit card on his point-of-sale system. “I am not one who tips for every little thing, but people were tipping these kids on their credit cards, which they really apprec…
Minimum Wage Increase In Westchester: Here's How Much It Will Rise As New Year Begins Minimum Wage Increase In Westchester: Here's How Much It Will Rise As New Year Begins
Minimum Wage Increase In Westchester: Here's How Much It Will Rise As New Year Begins As the New Year draws closer, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is reminding residents that the state's minimum wage will increase as soon as the ball drops.  Beginning on Monday, Jan. 1, the minimum wage in New York City, Westchester County, and Long Island will go up to $ 16 per hour, and $15 per hour for the rest of the state, Hochul reminded residents on Wednesday, Dec. 27.  Earlier Report - Minimum Wage To Go Up In New York: Here's When, How Much Additionally, the minimum wage for home care aides will increase to $18.55 per hour in New York City, Westchester, and Lon…
Minimum Wage Increase In NY: Here's How Much It Will Rise As New Year Begins Minimum Wage Increase In NY: Here's How Much It Will Rise As New Year Begins
Minimum Wage Increase In NY: Here's How Much It Will Rise As New Year Begins As the New Year draws closer, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is reminding residents that the state's minimum wage will increase as soon as the ball drops.  Beginning on Monday, Jan. 1, the minimum wage in New York City, Westchester County, and Long Island will go up to $ 16 per hour, and $15 per hour for the rest of the state, Hochul reminded residents on Wednesday, Dec. 27.  Earlier Report - Minimum Wage To Go Up In New York: Here's When, How Much Additionally, the minimum wage for home care aides will increase to $18.55 per hour in New York City, Westchester, and Lon…
COVID-19: Duo From Capital Region Admits To $100K Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme COVID-19: Duo From Capital Region Admits To $100K Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme
Covid-19: Duo From Capital Region Admits To $100K Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Two men from the region could spend decades in federal prison after admitting to a massive unemployment insurance fraud scheme that included benefits meant to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rensselaer County residents Taquan Parker, age 26, of Rensselaer, and Olajuwon Sutherland, age 27, of Troy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud charges in federal court in Albany on Monday, March 6. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Parker and Sutherland each gave the personal information of two other people to a third man, Kahleke Taylor, which Taylor…
Drunk Driver Admits Causing Wrong-Way Crash In Region That Killed 'Glue To Our Families' Drunk Driver Admits Causing Wrong-Way Crash In Region That Killed 'Glue To Our Families'
Drunk Driver Admits Causing Wrong-Way Crash In Region That Killed 'Glue To Our Families' More than a year after a 68-year-old woman was killed in a wrong-way crash in the region by a drunk driver, the man responsible has admitted fault. Mark Brodie, age 63, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to a host of charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, in Schenectady County Court on Thursday, Feb. 9, in the death of Denise Guthinger. Prosecutors said Brodie got behind the wheel on Oct. 29, 2021 after drinking alcohol and taking several controlled substances, including xanax and oxycodone. Shortly after 6 p.m., while driving in the Town of Niskayuna, he crossed the center line of…
This County In Region Now Leads State In Job Growth, Report Says This County In Region Now Leads State In Job Growth, Report Says
This County In Region Now Leads State In Job Growth, Report Says Those looking for work would do well to check out one New York county above all others. Sullivan County is leading the entire state - even New York City - in job growth, according to a new report from the state Department of Labor. Private-sector job growth in Sullivan County grew 9.1 percent year-over-year for September 2022, the report found. For comparison, New York City had a 6.8 percent job growth rate during the same period. Information services and the leisure and hospitality industries saw the most significant growth from the previous year at 100 percent and 32.5 percent, respect…
NY Labor Dept. On Track To Pay Over $110M In Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims In 2022 NY Labor Dept. On Track To Pay Over $110M In Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims In 2022
NY Labor Dept. On Track To Pay Over $110M In Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims In 2022 The New York State Department of Labor is on track to pay out more than $110 million in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced. A department investigation revealed that insurance fraud accounted for more than $11 million in benefits payments in August 2022 alone. The benefits were paid out almost exclusively to those who were already working while also collecting unemployment insurance payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor’s office said. Hochul said the state plans to go after those who received fraudulent benefits payments and…
Westchester Man Among Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds Say Westchester Man Among Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds Say
Westchester Man Among Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds Say Three men are facing federal charges for allegedly using other people’s identities to defraud the New York Labor Department out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Errol Murray, age 21, of Yonkers; Taliek Lanier, age 22, of Albany; and Thomas Brace, age 61, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, formerly of Albany, were all arrested on federal charges of mail and wire fraud, plus identity theft. Federal prosecutors said the trio conspired with a 36-year-old Albany woman, Jamie Johnson, and provided her with the personal identifying information of other people. Jonson pleaded guilty in February 2022 of…
Former State Employee From Capital District Pleads Guilty To Unemployment Insurance Fraud Former State Employee From Capital District Pleads Guilty To Unemployment Insurance Fraud
Former State Employee From Capital District Pleads Guilty To Unemployment Insurance Fraud A former employee at the New York State Department of Labor has admitted to using his position to commit unemployment insurance fraud. Albany resident Wendell Giles, age 52, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft Thursday, Aug. 25, in federal court in Albany. Original Report: Former State Employee From Albany Indicted For Unemployment Insurance Fraud Prosecutors had alleged that Giles conspired with another NYSDOL worker, Carl DiVeglia, to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits, including federally funded pandemic relief benefits. Together, they submi…
Postal Workers Charged After Fraud Evidence Discovered In Westchester Hotel, Feds Say Postal Workers Charged After Fraud Evidence Discovered In Westchester Hotel, Feds Say
Postal Workers Charged After Fraud Evidence Discovered In Westchester Hotel, Feds Say Three United States Postal Service workers were charged in a bribery and mail theft scheme after evidence was discovered at a Westchester County hotel. Oscar Abreu, age 41, of South Ozone Park, Rafael Grullon, of Manhattan, age 40, and Aldo Palomino Jr., of Long Island City, age 30, were charged in connection with their participation in a conspiracy to receive bribes and steal hundreds of pieces of mail, according to an announcement from Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The US Attorney's Office said the defendants are each charged with …
Capital District Man Admits To $207K Unemployment Insurance Fraud Capital District Man Admits To $207K Unemployment Insurance Fraud
Capital District Man Admits To $207K Unemployment Insurance Fraud A Capital District man could spend decades in federal prison after admitting to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits. Kahleke Taylor, age 21, of Albany, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges Tuesday, Aug. 9, in federal court in Albany. Prosecutors said Taylor stole the personal information of other people on social media and then used that information to file false unemployment insurance applications with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). On one application, filed in A…
COVID-19: Capital District Man Sentenced For $144K Pandemic Relief Fraud COVID-19: Capital District Man Sentenced For $144K Pandemic Relief Fraud
Covid-19: Capital District Man Sentenced For $144K Pandemic Relief Fraud A Capital District man who admitted to taking advantage of COVID-19 relief programs is heading to federal prison. Rensselaer County resident Hector Sanchez, age 30, of Rensselaer, was sentenced to 70 months - or just under six years - behind bars Monday, July 25, in federal court in Albany. It followed his prior guilty plea in March 2022 to charges of defrauding pandemic-related unemployment insurance and small business loan programs. Federal prosecutors said Sanchez raked in more than $131,000 by submitting false unemployment insurance claims to the New York State Department of Labor usin…