MONTGOMERY – Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced Thursday that the department has successfully prosecuted several Alabamians for unemployment compensation fraud. The following individuals were charged with first-degree theft of property for violating the Alabama Unemployment Compensation Law by making false statements in claims for benefits:
- Christopher Bryant, of Daphne, was tried in Baldwin County District Court on Sept. 22, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Bryant received a total of $3,456 in benefits to which he was not entitled. Bryant pled guilty and was sentenced to five years in jail, which was suspended. He was also ordered to pay a $100 fine, court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Arthur Boone, of Mobile, was tried in Mobile County Circuit Court on Aug.17, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Boone received a total of $6,140 in benefits to which he was not entitled. Boone pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended. He was also ordered to pay a $25 fine, court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Mary A. Clemons, of Mobile, was tried in Mobile County Circuit Court on June 30, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Clemons received a total of $7,310 in benefits to which she was not entitled. Clemons pled guilty and was sentenced to two years in jail, which was suspended. She was also ordered to pay a $25 fine, court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Stacey Ann McCall, of Eight Mile, was tried in Montgomery County District Court on July 19, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that McCall received a total of $4,447 in benefits to which she was not entitled. McCall pled guilty and was sentenced to two years of probation, which was suspended. She was also ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Humphrey McCastle, of Mobile, was tried in Mobile County District Court on Sept.29, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that McCastle received a total of $2,981 in benefits to which he was not entitled. McCastle pled guilty and was sentenced to two years in jail, which was suspended. He was also ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Kenyatta Fomby, of Talladega, was tried in Talladega County Circuit Court on Sept. 13, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Fomby received a total of $8,895 in benefits to which she was not entitled. Fomby pled guilty and was sentenced to three years of jail, which was suspended. She was also fined $500 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
The following individuals were charged with second-degree theft of property:
- Patrick Brown, of Mobile, was tried in Mobile County Circuit Court on July 13, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Brown received a total of $1,156 in benefits to which he was not entitled. Brown pled guilty and was sentenced to three years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Saravy Mao, of Mobile, was tried in Mobile County Circuit Court on June 27, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Mao received a total of $1,499 in benefits to which she was not entitled. Mao pled guilty and was sentenced to one year of jail, which was suspended. She was also fined $25 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Charles Whitfield, of Theodore, was tried in Mobile County Circuit Court on June 27, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Whitfield received a total of $2,385 in benefits to which he was not entitled. Whitfield pled guilty and was sentenced to seven years of jail, which was suspended. He was also fined $25 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Jimmy Bowman, of Montgomery, was tried in Montgomery County District Court on July 11, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Bowman received a total of $1,603 in benefits to which he was not entitled. Bowman pled guilty and was sentenced to two years of jail, which was suspended. He was also fined $500 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Monica Funderburg, of Talladega, was tried in Talladega County District Court on July 12, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Funderburg received a total of $1,109 in benefits to which she was not entitled. Funderburg pled guilty and was sentenced to one year of jail, which was split; she will serve 60 days and will be on probation for two years. She was also ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
The following individuals were charged with third-degree theft of property:
- Michael Cannon, of Randolph, was tried in Randolph County District Court on August 25, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Cannon received a total of $1,684 in benefits to which he was not entitled. Cannon pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 days of jail, which was suspended, and placed on one year of unsupervised probation. He was also fined $25 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Melinda Gurley Humphries, of Talladega, was tried in Talladega County District Court on August 11, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Humphries received a total of $1,265 in benefits to which she was not entitled. Humphries pled guilty and was sentenced to six months of probation, which was suspended. She was also ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
- Jasmine Embery, of Talladega, was tried in Talladega County Circuit Court on October 11, 2016. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Embery received a total of $1,105 in benefits to which she was not entitled. Embery pled guilty and was sentenced to two years of jail, which was suspended. She was also fined $250 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.
“Unemployment compensation benefits can serve as a lifeline to those who truly need them,” said Washington. “However, we want to send a message to those who would knowingly defraud the system in order to obtain benefits they aren’t entitled to: This is a crime and you will be prosecuted. Our investigators are continuously working with local district attorney offices in order to identify and prosecute those individuals who are committing these crimes. I would also like to remind employers that their timely reporting of new hires is one of the best tools we have to prevent unemployment fraud.”
Suspected unemployment compensation fraud may be reported to the Alabama Department of Labor by calling 1-800-392-8019.
Employers may find more information regarding reporting new hires at http://www.labor.alabama.gov/nh.
