Alabama Department of Labor Obtaining Convictions for Unemployment

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Nov 25 2014 1:18 PM

MONTGOMERY – Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald Washington announced today that the Department has successfully prosecuted several Alabamians for unemployment compensation fraud. The following individuals were charged with violating the Alabama Unemployment Compensation Law by making false statements in claims for benefits:


Jamarious L. Carter, of Anniston, was tried in Calhoun County District Court on October
7, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that
Carter received a total of $2,140 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Carter pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended for two
years pending restitution, and given two years of supervised probation. He was fined
$100 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received
illegally.


Ashley Lynn McCluskey, of Enterprise, was tried in Coffee County District Court on
November 17, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section
determined that McCluskey received a total of $3,810 in benefits to which she was not
entitled.

McCluskey pled guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail, which was suspended for
two years, and two years of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the
amount of benefits received illegally.

 Jason Covington, of Andalusia, was tried in Covington County District Court on
September 23, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section
determined that Covington received a total of $3,194 in benefits to which he was not
entitled.

Covington pled guilty and was sentenced to two years in jail, which was suspended, and

given two years of probation. He was also fined $100 and ordered to pay court costs and
restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.


Demetricia S. Marshall, of Tyler, was tried in Dallas County District Court on November
18, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that
Marshall received a total of $3,507 in benefits to which she was not entitled.
Marshall pled guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which was suspended for two
years pending restitution, and given two years of unsupervised probation. She was also
ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.


David Adams, of Birmingham, was tried in Jefferson County District Court on September
15, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that
Adams received a total of $3,283 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Adams pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended, and two
years of unsupervised probation. He was ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the
amount of benefits received illegally.


Kenneth Leon White, of Birmingham, was tried in Jefferson County District Court on
September 29, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section
determined that White received a total of $7,583 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
White pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended, and two
years of probation. He was also fined $100 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution
in the amount of benefits received illegally.


Reginald Floyd, of Midway, was tried in Macon County District Court on October 15,
2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that
Floyd received a total of $2,313 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Floyd pled guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which was suspended, and two
years of unsupervised probation. He was ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the
amount of benefits received illegally. Steven M. Phillips, of Marion, was tried in Perry County District Court on November 17,
2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that
Phillips received a total of $4,505 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Phillips pled guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which was suspended for two
years pending restitution, and two years of unsupervised probation. He was also ordered
to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.


Courtney T. Wilson, of Sylacauga, was tried in Talladega County District Court on
November 12, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section
determined that Wilson received a total of $7,338 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Wilson pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in jail, which was suspended for three
years pending restitution, and was given three years of unsupervised probation. He was
also fined $750 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits
received illegally.


Cecil Griffin, of Tuscaloosa, was tried in Tuscaloosa County District Court on September
18, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that
Griffin received a total of $1,429 in benefits to which he was not entitledGriffin pled guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which was suspended for 90
days, and given two years of probation. He was also ordered to pay court costs and
restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.


Dexter Jones, of Moundville, was tried in Tuscaloosa County District Court on October
8, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that
Jones received a total of $2,051 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Jones pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which was suspended for 30 days,
and given two years of probation pending behavior of the defendant. He was also ordered
to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.


Larry Smith, of Tuscaloosa, was tried in Tuscaloosa County District Court on September
24, 2014. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that
Smith received a total of $1,124 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Smith pled guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which was suspended for 90 days,
and given two years of probation. He was also ordered to pay court costs and restitution
in the amount of benefits received illegally.“Unemployment compensation benefits can serve as a lifeline to those who truly need them,”
said Washington. “However, we want to send a message to those who would knowingly defraud
the system in order to obtain benefits they aren’t entitled to: This is a crime and you will be
prosecuted.”
“Our investigators are continuously working with local District Attorney Offices in order to
identify and prosecute those individuals who are committing these crimes. I would also like to
remind employers that their timely reporting of new hires is one of the best tools we have to
prevent unemployment fraud.”
Suspected unemployment compensation fraud may be reported to the Alabama Department of
Labor by calling 1-800-392-8019.
Employers may find more information regarding reporting new hires at
http://www.labor.alabama.gov/nh.

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