Two From Dutchess County Arrested for Unlawfully Collecting Benefits

New York State Police have arrested a man and woman, both from Dutchess County, in two separate cases of unlawfully collecting unemployment benefits.

State Police allege that 45-year-old Dawn A. Jawrower, of Beekman, illegally collected over $8,200 in unemployment benefits from January of 2011 until June of 2013. Police say Jawrower created false business records by certifying that she was unemployed when in fact she was gainfully employed.

29-year-old Brian S. Mead, of Millbrook, is accused of stealing over $4,300 in unemployment benefits throughout the course of several months in 2012 and 2013. Police allege Mead created false business records by certifying weekly that he was completely unemployed, when he was really gainfully employed.

The two cases are unrelated, but both have been charged with 3rd-degree grand larceny, 1st-degree offering a false instrument for filing, and falsifying business records, all felonies.

Jawrower was arraigned before the Town of LaGrange Court and released on her own recognizance. She is due to appear before the Town of Beekman Court on January 28th.

Mead, who was jailed in the Dutchess County Jail on unrelated charges, is scheduled to appear in the Town of Dover Court on February 8th.

Both arrests were made as a result of a joint investigation by the New York State Department of Labor and the New York State Police.