A Chilton County man was among 10 Alabamians the Alabama Department of Labor prosecuted for unemployment compensation fraud in June.

Thomas M. Allen of Montevallo was tried in Chilton County District Court on May 23. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Allen received $12,639 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Allen pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution, and given two years of unsupervised probation.

He was also fined $400 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

Nine other individuals were also charged with violating the Alabama Unemployment Compensation Law by making false statements in claims for benefits, including:

•Phillip J. Dancy of Selma was tried in Dallas County District Court on May 14. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Dancy received $1,360 in benefits to which he was not entitled. Dancy pled guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, suspended for two years pending restitution, and given two years of unsupervised probation. He was also ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

“We at the Alabama Department of Labor want people to know that we are aggressively pursuing cases of unemployment compensation fraud,” Surtees said. “Especially in these economic times, we want to make sure that all who are entitled to benefits receive them. But at the same time, we will not allow those who deliberately try to defraud the system to go unpunished. We are working with local District Attorney offices to make sure that we can identify and prosecute those individuals who are committing these crimes.”

Suspected unemployment compensation fraud may be reported to the Alabama Department of Labor by calling 1-800-392-8019.