ALBANY, NY — Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the sentencing of Dennis Broccolo, 55, of New Rochelle, to 3 and 1/3 to 7 years’ incarceration for each conviction of two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, following his January 21, 2016 guilty plea. Broccolo and co-defendant Stephanie Vega, 27, of New Rochelle, twice submitted false applications for unemployment insurance benefits by claiming to have worked for two different companies at which they were never employed. Broccolo’s sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
“Unemployment insurance offers a critical safety net for New Yorkers who fall on tough economic times and must be safeguarded against fraud and abuse,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Today’s sentencing makes it clear that when individuals defraud the unemployment system they are stealing from New Yorkers in need and they will be held accountable.”
The defendants falsely claimed to have worked for Bassa Iripina Corporation when both applied for unemployment benefits in October 2012. In support of their claims, both Broccolo and Vega also submitted false documents.
After Broccolo and Vega received the maximum allowable benefits under the October 2012 claims, in November 2014, Broccolo and Vega again applied for unemployment insurance benefits, this time claiming they worked for Drakemain Café & Lounge. In support of their claims, both Broccolo and Vega again submitted false documents.
The defendant was sentenced by the Honorable Thomas J. Breslin in Albany County Court. Vega is expected to appear for sentencing before Judge Breslin next week.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Bridget Holohan Scally of the Public Integrity Bureau. The Public Integrity Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Daniel Cort and Deputy Bureau Chief Stacy Aronowitz. The investigation was conducted by Investigator Mitchell Paurowski of the Investigations Bureau, Investigator Michelle Martone of the New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations, with assistance provided by Associate Forensic Auditor Meagan Scovello and Legal Support Analyst Sara Pogorzelski. The Attorney General’s Office thanks the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations for their work on the case. The Attorney General’s Investigations Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Dominick Zarrella and Deputy Bureau Chief Antoine Karam. The Criminal Division is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Kelly Donovan.