Office of the Attorney General: Shrewsbury Woman Arraigned in Connection with Fraudulently Collecting More Than $11,000 in Unemployment Benefits

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

August 07, 2008

Contact:
Grant Woodman (AGO)
(617) 727-2543
Linnea Walsh (EOLWD)
(617) 626-7111


WESTBOROUGH – A Shrewsbury woman was arraigned yesterday on charges she schemed to collect more than $11,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Johanna Simisky 46, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (28 counts) and Larceny over $250.

According to authorities, Simisky applied for unemployment benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development’s Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in December 2005 while separated from her employer and began receiving benefits from January 2006 through July 2006. During part of this time, Simisky was allegedly working full time at UMASS Memorial Medical Group and working part time at Stop & Shop in Shrewsbury. Simisky allegedly failed to disclose her full time employment status at UMASS to DUA, but did report a portion of her part time earnings at Stop & Shop.

For each of the 28 weeks that Simisky collected unemployment benefits, from January 2006 through July 2006, she allegedly notified the DUA that she looked for work, that she was available for work and that she was working. The alleged fraudulent activities were initially detected by investigators from the DUA. Simisky fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits totaling $11,766.

Simisky was arraigned yesterday in Westborough District Court at which time she entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. Simisky is due back in court on September 23, 2008, for a pre-trial conference. Westborough District Court Judge Vito A. Virzi presided over yesterday’s arraignment.

To report unemployment fraud to the DUA, call the agency’s toll free fraud hotline at 1-800-354-9927 anytime, 24 hours a day. Callers may remain anonymous.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant Attorney General Stephen Adams of Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division with assistance from investigator Pepper Daigler of the Attorney General’s Office and investigator Paul Griffin from the DUA.