Poughkeepsie woman arrested for unlawfully collecting unemployment benefits

Poughkeepsie, New York – On August 4, 2015, New York State Police from the Poughkeepsie barracks arrested Renee L. Smith, 35 years old, of Poughkeepsie, New York, for Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, a Class D Felony, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1^st Degree, a Class E Felony, and Falsifying Business Records 1st Degree, a Class E Felony.

The arrest is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the New York State Department of Labor Special Investigation Division and the New York State Police.

Smith is accused of unlawfully collecting over $8,200 worth of unemployment insurance benefits between September of 2012 and April of 2013.  False business records were generated when Smith certified weekly that she was totally unemployed when in fact she was gainfully employed.

Smith was arraigned before the Town of Pleasant Valley Court and released on her own recognizance.  Smith is scheduled to re-appear in the Town of Poughkeepsie Court on August 11, 2015.