New Rochelle residents plead guilty to stealing $69K in unemployment

Two New Rochelle residents on Thursday pleaded guilty to stealing more than $69,000 in unemployment benefits from two city businesses, according to Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman.

Dennis Broccolo, 55, pleaded guilty to grand larceny and Stephanie Vega, 27, pleaded guilty to offering a false instrument for filing in Albany County Court after they falsely claimed to have worked for Bassa Iripinia Corp. and Drakemain Cafe & Lounge, both registered at 1 Drake Avenue in New Rochelle.

According to Schneiderman, Broccolo and Vega first applied for unemployment benefits in October of 2012 while claiming to work for Bassa Iripinia Corp. After received the maximum allowable benefits under those claims, the pair again applied for unemployment benefits in November of 2014 while falsely claiming to work for Drakemain Cafe & Lounge.

Schneiderman, who called the theft of unemployment benefits a “serious crime,” said the pair continued to illegally receive benefits through May 2015.

Both admitted to Judge Thomas J. Breslin Thursday to submitting fraudulent papers to the Department of Labor to obtain unemployment insurance benefits. Broccolo pleaded guilty to two counts of third degree grand larceny, and will be sentenced to three-and-a-half to seven years in prison and required to pay full restitution. Vega pleaded guilty to first degree offering a false instrument for filing, and will be sentenced to one year interim probation and also required to pay full restitution. Breslin will consider whether to extend Vega’s probation for up to five years after her interim probation is over.

Broccolo and Vega will be sentenced on March 17.

“When criminals defraud the system, it hurts both businesses who pay into the trust fund and claimants who depend on benefits during a difficult time,” said Acting Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon.