Georgia Woman Arraigned for Allegedly Collecting More Than $13,000 in Unemployment Benefits While Working
According to authorities, Houston applied for unemployment benefits from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development's Division of Unemployment Assistance (EOLWD\DUA) in December 2005 while separated from her Massachusetts employer and began receiving benefits from January 2006 through December 2006. On separate occasions during part of this time, Houston was allegedly working full-time for an Atlanta based hospital and part-time at an addiction recovery facility and failed to disclose her employment status to EOLWD\DUA.
For each of the 33 weeks that Houston collected unemployment benefits between the months of May 2006 through December 2006, she allegedly notified the EOLWD\DUA that she was not working, but that she was able to work and was available for work. The alleged fraudulent activities were initially detected by investigators from the EOLWD\DUA. Authorities allege Houston collected fraudulent benefits totaling $13,200 while working and collecting.
A Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against Houston on July 23, 2009. Today, Houston was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court at which time she entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. Houston is due back in court on September 24, 2009, for a pre-trial conference. Clerk Magistrate Gary Wilson presided over the arraignment.
To report unemployment fraud to the EOLWD\DUA, call the agency's toll free fraud hotline at 1-800-354-9927 anytime, 24 hours a day. Callers may remain anonymous.
The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant Attorney General Stephen Adams of Attorney General Martha Coakley's Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division with assistance from investigator Mark St. Onge from EOLWD\DUA.
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