FROM STAFF REPORTS

Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees announced today that the department has successfully prosecuted several Alabamians for unemployment compensation fraud.

The following Shelby County residents were charged with violating the Alabama Unemployment Compensation Law by making false statements in claims for benefits.

Kasey S. Drake of Montevallo was tried in Shelby County District Court on June 25. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Drake received a total of $10,801 in benefits to which she was not entitled, according to a release from the Alabama Department of Labor.

Drake pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution, and two years of unsupervised probation. She was ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally, according to the release.

Harvone Crenshaw of Alabaster was tried in Shelby County District Court on Sep. 24. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Crenshaw received a total of $1,419 in benefits to which he was not entitled, the release stated.

Crenshaw pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution, and two years of unsupervised probation. He was also fined $100 and required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

“We at the Alabama Department of Labor want people to know that we are aggressively pursuing cases of unemployment compensation fraud,” Surtees wrote in the release. “Especially in these economic times, we want to make sure that all who are entitled to benefits receive them. But at the same time, we will not allow those who deliberately try to defraud the system to go unpunished. We are working with local District Attorney Offices to make sure that we can identify and prosecute those individuals who are committing these crimes.”

Suspected unemployment compensation fraud may be reported to the Alabama Department of Labor by calling 1-800-392-8019.