August 18, 2015
By Jerry Cohen, Albany Bureau
Albany NY – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced the arraignment of Martin T. Reid, the Chairman of the Rensselaer County Legislature, on charges of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree stemming from Reid’s allegedly improper receipt of unemployment insurance benefits. Reid Allegedly collected unemployment benefits while employed.
“Unemployment insurance benefits exist to protect hardworking New Yorkers who suddenly find themselves without a job, not to fatten the wallets of those who are already gainfully employed,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office will continue working with the Department of Labor to root out fraud and hold accountable anyone who fraudulently obtains unemployment insurance benefits by lying about their employment status.”
According to the indictment and documents filed with the court at arraignment, between February 2013 and November 2013, Reid improperly collected more than $15,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while employed by Rensselaer County and earning an annual salary of $30,000. If convicted Reid could face up to 7 years in prison.
“Fraudulently securing Unemployment Insurance benefits undermines the integrity of the entire Unemployment system,” John Dormin, Executive Director of the New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations said. “Our office will continue to work on behalf of businesses and taxpayers to identify and refer for prosecution those who illegally secure benefits in New York State.”
