MONTGOMERY — Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees announced Monday the department has successfully prosecuted eight Alabamians for unemployment compensation fraud, including three from Selma.

“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.”

The following individuals were charged with violating the Alabama Unemployment Compensation Law by making false statements in claims for benefits.

• Queen E. Grayson, of Selma, was tried in Dallas County District Court on Sept. 25. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Grayson received a total of $1,548 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Grayson pled guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution, and two years of unsupervised probation. She was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

• Laneshia L. Shelton, of Selma, was tried in Dallas County District Court on Sept. 11. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Shelton received a total of $2,932 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Shelton pled guilty and was sentenced to eight months in jail, which was suspended pending restitution, and two years of unsupervised probation. She was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

• Jena L. Moorer, of Selma, was tried in Dallas County District Court on July 19. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Moorer received a total of $7,219 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Moorer pled guilty and was sentenced to three months in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution, and two years of unsupervised probation. She was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

• Cheryl Ivy, of Birmingham, was tried in Jefferson County District Court on Sept. 27. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined Ivy received a total of $2,494 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Ivy pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended pending restitution, and one year of unsupervised probation. She was also ordered to pay a $50 fine, court costs, and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

• Michael F. Haith, of Birmingham, was tried in Jefferson County District Court on Sept. 27. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Haith received a total of $7,993 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Haith pled guilty and was sentenced to serve one year in jail, which was suspended pending restitution, and five years of unsupervised probation. He was fined $50 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

• Kasey S. Drake, of Montevallo, was tried in Shelby County District Court on June 25. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Drake received a total of $10,801 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Drake pled guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution, and two years of unsupervised probation. She was ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

• Harvone Crenshaw, of Alabaster, was tried in Shelby County District Court on Sept. 24. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Crenshaw received a total of $1,419 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Crenshaw pled guilty and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution, and two years of unsupervised probation. He was also fined $100 and required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

• John M. Wells, of Dothan, was tried in Houston County District Court on Aug. 27. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Wells received a total of $4,080 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Wells pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended for two years. He was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.

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