Defrauding NIB

A manager at the National Insurance Board in Andros is accused of orchestrating a $123,809.94 unemployment benefits fraud scheme. Dino Dean, 40, allegedly authorized false unemployment claims for 15 people, who cashed the benefit checks. Dean denied charges of forgery, falsification of accounts, money laundering, fraud by false pretenses and conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretenses at his arraignment before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes yesterday. Prosecutors say the following people illegally received short-term unemployment benefit checks as part of the short-term COVID-19 unemployment relief: Leroy Poitier, Latoya Neely, Ashanique Neely, Gary Lafleur, Lakeisha Tucker, Gillian Thurston, Kaylisa Miller, Brian Cooper, Ray Rigby, Thio Rolle, Gadville Woodside, Jermaine Evans, Takia Smith, Santoine Major and Quentin Rahming. Cooper and Rahming each cashed checks for $4,256.89, Major cashed a check for $4,125 and Miller cashed a check for $3,081.80, although none of them qualified for the benefits. Forbes ordered them to repay the illegally obtained money by October 30, in order to avoid spending six months in prison. The remaining defendants were denied bail and return to court on February 8.