Woman accused of fraud on jobless benefits

Officials say she collected checks for ex-husband who was in prison

An East Haven woman was arrested for allegedly conspiring with her ex-husband to collect nearly $11,000 in unemployment compensation benefits in his name while he was in prison.

Kellie M. Park-Dyer, 26, of 330 Short Beach Road, was charged Friday with one count each of firstdegree larceny by defrauding a public community, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and felony unemployment compensation fraud, according to a release from the state’s Division of Criminal Justice.

The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit in the office of the Chief State’s Attorney into a complaint by the state Department of Labor, which administers the unemployment compensation program.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, ParkDyer and her former husband, Donald Dyer, conspired to continue collecting his unemployment benefits after he became incarcerated and thus ineligible for benefits, since he was not available to work, according to the release. A state Labor Department report indicated a total of $10,553 was obtained fraudulently, the warrant states.

Park-Dyer was released on $10,000 non-surety bail and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in New Britain on March 8. The charges are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent unless and until she is found guilty, officials said.

First-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community are Class B felonies punishable by not less than one year nor more than 20 years in prison and/or up to a $15,000 fine. Unemployment compensation fraud in excess of $500 is a Class D felony punishable by not less than one year nor more than five years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine, according to the release.

The case is being prosecuted by the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit, established under a partnership between the Division of Criminal Justice and the Department of Labor to investigate and prosecute fraud in the Unemployment Compensation program. It is financed with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.