City worker takes plea deal in unemployment benefits fraud case

Local News

September 15, 2011

By Rick Pfeiffer Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Thu Sep 15, 2011, 11:59 PM EDT

NIAGARA FALLS — A former leader of the Fall’s ZOOM Team had pleaded guilty to collecting unemployment benefits will working for the city.

Clarence Bradley, the deputy director of the city’s clean neighborhood program commonly known as ZOOM, pleaded guilty to single count of petit larceny in a deal with the Niagara County District Attorney’s office. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 25.

Bradley was originally charged by State Police investigators with third-degree grand larceny and filing a false instrument. He was accused of collecting $3,200 in unemployment benefits while he was working for the city.

The ZOOM team leader was placed on unpaid administrative leave at the time of his arrest in April. Mayor Paul Dyster said Bradley’s status with the city has not changed.

“At the moment, he’s still on unpaid administrative leave,” Dyster said. “We’re currently assessing what his (guilty) plea means for his status.”

Previously, Dyster had said he was prepared to fire Bradley, once his case was resolved.

“If we find improper behavior by city employees, we're going to use the tools we have available to us as a city government to clean things up,” the mayor said. “This type of conduct is not tolerated by this administration.”

Dyster said the investigation of Bradley began after a routine internal review of payroll records in January.

"The matter was called to my attention in January following a routine review of paperwork in the payroll and finance departments," he said.

After uncovering the discrepancy, Dyster said the city contacted a consultant, People’s Systems, which conducts book-keeping services for the Falls and they reported the situation to the state Department of Labor. A Labor Department review determined Bradley illegally collected unemployment benefits from Oct. 11 to Dec. 5, 2010.

The mayor said the state has indicated the city will be reimbursed for the salary Bradley was paid while he was collecting the unemployment benefits.

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