New Canaan Dental Hygienist Charged With Nearly $18K In Unemployment Fraud

NEW CANAAN, Conn. -- A West Haven woman was arrested Wednesday and charged with illegally collecting almost $18,000 in unemployment compensation benefits when she worked as a dental hygienist in New Canaan, authorities said.

A dental hygienist who worked in New Canaan was charged with larceny and unemployment fraud Wednesday.
Photo Credit: *File*

Jay Waitkus

08/27/2016 4:00 a.m.

Christine A. Zampedri, 49, was taken into custody by inspectors from the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit in the Office of the Chief State's Attorney.

The arrest is the result of an investigation into a complaint by the Connecticut Department of Labor.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Zampedri fraudulently collected approximately $17,860 in unemployment benefits while working in New Haven from January through August 2013.

The defendant has been charged with one count of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community, a class B felony punishable by not less than one year nor more than 20 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine, along with one count of unemployment compensation fraud in excess of $500, a class D felony punishable by not less than one year nor more than five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

Zampedri was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond, and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court, G.A. No. 15 on Tuesday, August 30, according to officials.

The case is being prosecuted by the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit, which was established under a partnership between the Division of Criminal Justice and the Department of Labor to investigate and prosecute fraud in the unemployment compensation program.

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