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Worker At Redding Country Club Charged With Cheating Unemployment

REDDING, Conn. — A man was arrested Friday on charges of fraudulently collecting nearly $12,000 in unemployment compensation benefits while he was working at a country club in Redding, prosecutors said.

A Waterbury man is accused of working at a country club in Redding while he was collecting unemployment.

A Waterbury man is accused of working at a country club in Redding while he was collecting unemployment.

Photo Credit: File

Jose A. Flete, 48, of Waterbury, was arrested by inspectors from the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. He was charged with one count each of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and unemployment compensation fraud.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Flete fraudulently collected $11,907 in unemployment benefits from March 2012 through June 2015 when, in fact, he was working and earning wages at a country club in Redding.

Flete was released on $10,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on May 4. 

The arrest is the result of an investigation into a complaint by the Connecticut Department of Labor, which administers the Unemployment Compensation program. 

Larceny by defrauding a public community is a Class B felony punishable by not less than one year nor more than 20 years in prison and/or up to a $15,000 fine. Unemployment Compensation Fraud in excess of $500 is a Class D felony punishable by not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine.

The case is being prosecuted by the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit.

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