MERIDEN–A woman is being accused of illegally collecting $11,340 in unemployment compensation benefits that she wasn’t owed.
Tania Thomas, 39, of Meriden, is charged with larceny in the first degree by defrauding a public community and unemployment compensation fraud. The fraud occurred from January through November 2011 while she was employed and therefore not eligible for the money she collected.
An investigation by the unemployment compensation fraud unit in the office of the chief state’s attorney helped reveal the crime after the Connecticut Department of Labor submitted a complaint.
Thomas was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and is due in court on Nov. 20.
The larceny charge is punishable by not less than one year or more than 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $15,000. The fraud charge is punishable by not less than one year or more than five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
