TRENTON – Division of Criminal Justice Director Vaughn L. McKoy announced that the Financial Crimes Bureau has charged a Monmouth County Probation officer and three other New Jersey residents with illegally collecting more than $27,200 in Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits.

According to Director McKoy, the Division of Criminal Justice - Financial Crimes Bureau obtained a State Grand Jury indictment charging Maxine Kantrowitz, 51, Frank Street, Santa Monica, CA, with two counts of theft by deception (3rd degree) and unsworn falsification (4th degree). The indictment alleges that Kantrowitz filed two separate claims for UI benefits, with the first claim filed in May, 1999. An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice determined that between September and November, 1999, Kantrowitz was employed by the New Jersey Department of Judiciary, Monmouth County Probation, as an investigator in Freehold, Monmouth County. It is charged that Kantrowitz failed to report earnings to the Department of Labor (DOL). Kantrowitz filed a second UI benefits claim in August, 2000. The indictment alleges that Kantrowitz began working in April, 2001 at Schulman, Roncoa & Bucuvalas, Inc. in West Long Branch, Monmouth County, and failed to report earnings to the DOL. it is charged that Kantrowitz allegedly collected more than $6,486 to which she was not entitled.

A second indictment filed by the Division of Criminal Justice on Nov. 9, charges Shanita Lance (f/k/a Shanita Bethea), 38, Genesee Street, Trenton, with two counts of theft by deception and two counts of unsworn falsification. It is charged that Lance filed for UI benefits in May, 1999, collecting on the claim until November, 1999. The investigation determined that from July through September, 1999, Lance worked at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton, Mercer County. And, beginning in November, 1999, Lance allegedly worked for Princeton Nursing Home Rehabilitation Center, Princeton, Mercer County. It is charged that Lance failed to report the earnings to the DOL. It is charged that Lance filed a second UI benefits claim in August, 2000. The indictment alleges that from April - August, 2001, Lance earned wages from Gambro Healthcare, Inc., Burlington, Burlington County, and failed to report the earnings to the DOL. It is charged that Lance obtained more than $6,280 in UI benefits to which she was not entitled.

A Nov. 1 State Grand Jury indictment charged Floydzel Williams, 33, Montrose Terrace, Irvington, Essex County, with two counts of theft by deception (3rd degree) and one count of unsworn falsification to authorities (4th degree) for allegedly stealing more than $8,456 from the UI benefits program. The indictment alleges that Williams filed for UI benefits in April, 1999, and collected on the claim for approximately six months. During that time, Williams failed to report earnings as a security guard for three employers - Labor Management Concepts (May - June); C&S Wholesale Grocers (September - October); and SOS Security, Inc. (October) to the DOL. According to the indictment, Williams filed a second UI benefits claim in December, 2000 and again failed to report earnings to the DOL, this time from CCA of Tennessee Inc.

A fourth State Grand Jury indictment filed by the Division of Criminal Justice on Nov. 1 charges Emory Babbs, Jr., 48, Clinton Ave., Newark, Essex County with theft by deception (3rd degree) and unsworn falsification to authorities (4th degree). According to the indictment, Babbs filed for UI benefits in April, 1999, claiming earnings of $47 per week. For this claim, Babbs received more than $232 in UI benefits per week. An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice determined that Babbs was actually earning more than $300 per week from the Newark Division of Sanitation. Between April and October, 1999, Babbs was paid more than $6,014 in UI benefits to which he was not entitled.

Deputy Attorney General Candy Cure presented the Kantrowitz case to the State Grand Jury. The case, which will be venued in Monmouth County for trial, was handed up to Mercer County Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg on Oct. 27. DAG Mark Kurzwa presented the Lance case, which will be venued in Mercer County. DAG Denise Grugan presented the Williams case and DAG Edward G. Werner presented the Babbs case. State Investigators Gary O’Brien and Lynn Fitzgerald coordinated the investigations. The Lance, Williams and Babbs cases were handed up to Mercer County Superior Court Judge Maria M. Sypek. Both the Williams and Babbs cases have been assigned to Essex County.

Under state law, the penalty for a third degree crime is up to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. The penalty for a fourth-degree crime is up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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