Unemployment Benefit Thieves

Authorities have charged eight New Jersey residents with collecting unemployment checks while they were working.

Attorney General Peter Harvey's Office says the eight collected more than $58,000. Each is charged with theft by deception and unsworn falsification, and faces fines and jail time if convicted.

John Collette is charged with bilking the Labor Department of $7,000 in unemployment while working as a union steelworker.

The state says the Atlantic City resident worked at 11 different jobs while he was collecting benefits.

The 41-year-old also collected union unemployment he was not entitled to, according to the state.

Collette and seven others were indicted by a state Grand Jury.

Author: NBC10/AP