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Elidio Garcia, 48, was charged with felony grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing receiving the benefits over a four-year period when he was only in the U.S. for part of that time, said Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe.
According to the DA's Office, Garcia filed paperwork with the New York State Department of Labor claiming he was living in the U.S. and was willing and able to work.
“Those who falsely apply for and receive Unemployment Insurance benefits cheat legitimately unemployed workers and increase the insurance rates paid by employers,” said Zugibe. “Along with our partners in law enforcement, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office will remain aggressive in bringing individuals who defraud the UI system to justice.”
Garcia was arrested during the early morning hours of Aug. 9 at his place of employment by detectives from the DA's Office, the Haverstraw Police Department, and agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
He was arraigned in the Village of West Haverstraw Justice Court by the Honorable Richard S. Pakola and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 29.
If convicted, he faces up to seven years in state prison.
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