ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — Christopher Ward, 45, of Troy, pleaded guilty to trying to defraud the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) by getting unemployment insurance benefits under another person’s name, including federal benefits in response to the COVID pandemic.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports that Ward admitted to providing Carl DiVeglia III with another person’s identification information, which DeVeglia used to file a false claim with the NYSDOL. He also admitted that the NYSDOL paid $15,006 in unemployment insurance benefits as a result of the fraudulent claim submitted by DeVeglia.
Ward agreed to repay the $15,006 in restitution to the state. He will face up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years after sentencing on June 27. The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports that the charges are still pending for his three co-defendants, his brother Todd Ward, Rocco Resciniti, and Jamaine Myers.