Meriden man is accused of using someone else’s Social Security number to collect unemployment benefits over more than 10 years.
Mauricio Perez, 38, of Meriden, is charged with one count of first-degree defrauding a public community, felony unemployment compensation fraud and first-degree identity theft.
According to the Division of Criminal Justice, Perez used the Social Security number of a California resident to collect about $68,197 in unemployment benefits from September 2002 and January 2013 when he wasn’t legally authorized to work in the U.S.
He was arrested Friday by Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit inspectors and was arraigned in New Britain Superior Court. Perez’s bond was set at $20,000. He’s due back in court Aug. 14.
