MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Ten individuals across New Jersey were indicted in March 2025 for fraud related to unemployment benefits and pandemic relief programs, according to an announcement from Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice. These cases underscore the state’s ongoing efforts to investigate fraud tied to the COVID-19 financial assistance programs.
Among those charged is Vanessa Allen, a former temporary clerk with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL). Allen, from East Orange, is accused of using her official position to improperly access unemployment systems, enabling herself and others to unlawfully receive benefits. The indictment alleges she fraudulently obtained $56,030 in benefits through unauthorized computer access and false entries in department records.
Allen faces multiple charges, including:
Four counts of official misconduct (2nd degree)
Pattern of official misconduct (2nd degree)
Theft by deception and tampering with public records or information (3rd degree)
Falsifying or tampering with records (4th degree)
Computer theft (3rd degree)
Along with Allen, Jeffson Cues of Newark, Nerlande Etienne of Irvington, and Rose Allen of East Orange have been charged with third-degree theft by deception for allegedly receiving benefits they were not entitled to. Specific fraud amounts for these individuals are as follows:
Cues allegedly received $41,689
Etienne allegedly received $59,701
Rose Allen allegedly received $33,459
These cases are being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Joseph Tartaglia.
In a separate indictment dated March 5, 2025, Daezonae Cabbagestalk and Durrell Jenkins, both of Voorhees, were charged for orchestrating fraudulent schemes that netted over $75,000 each through the U.S. Small Business Administration and New Jersey COVID-19 loan programs. The charges include:
Theft by deception (2nd and 3rd degree)
Forgery (3rd degree)
Money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering (2nd degree)
Failure to pay taxes and filing fraudulent tax returns (3rd degree)
Misconduct by a corporate official (2nd degree)
Check fraud (3rd degree) (for Jenkins)
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Lindsey Watson.
Additional individuals indicted for unemployment benefit fraud include:
Selene Williams of Woodbridge, charged with third-degree theft by deception for collecting benefits from March 29, 2020, to June 21, 2022
Virginia Smith of Clementon, charged with third-degree theft by deception from April 12, 2020, to January 8, 2022
Paul Huber of Pitman, charged with third-degree theft by deception from February 22, 2020, to August 28, 2021
Brian Korygoski of Sayreville, charged with three counts of third-degree theft by deception for collecting benefits between March 22, 2020, and July 22, 2023
These cases are being prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Sarah G. Milicia, Zachary S. Zuczek, and Anthony J. Papageorgiou.
Penalties for these offenses vary depending on the degree of the charges. Second-degree charges may result in five to ten years in prison and fines up to $150,000. Third-degree charges carry three to five years in prison and fines up to $15,000. Fourth-degree offenses are punishable by up to 18 months in prison and fines up to $10,000.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Attorney General Platkin thanked the New Jersey Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Labor–Office of the Inspector General, and the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Office for their support in these investigations.
