Malden Massachusetts Man Arraigned For Allegedly Collecting More Than $10,000 In Unemployment Benefits While Working

Boston, MA (CompNewsNetwork) - A Malden Massachusetts man was arraigned yesterday on charges he schemed to collect over $10,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work.  David Pinkney, age 44, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (29 counts) and Larceny over $250.
             
According to authorities, Pinkney applied for unemployment benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development's Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in September 2005 while separated from his employer and began receiving benefits from September 2005 through May 2006.  During part of this time, Pinkney was allegedly working full-time as a mechanic at Kelly-Jeep Eagle in Lynnfield and failed to disclose his employment status to DUA.

For each of the 29 weeks that Pinkney collected unemployment benefits from October 2005 through May 2006, he notified the DUA that he was not working, but that he was able to work and was available for work.  The alleged fraudulent activities were initially detected by investigators from the DUA.  Authorities allege Pinkney collected fraudulent payments totaling $10,440.

Indictments were returned against Pinkney on August 27, 2008.  Pinkney was arraigned yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court at which time he entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance.  Pinkney is due back in court on October 28, 2008 for a pre-trial conference.  Clerk Magistrate Gary Wilson presided over the arraignment. 

To report unemployment fraud to the 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 Audrey Cosgrove of Attorney General Martha Coakley's Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division with assistance from investigators Pepper Daigler of the Attorney General's Office and Mark St. Onge of DUA.

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