MONTGOMERY — Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees announced Monday the prosecution of several Alabamians for unemployment compensation fraud, including on Selma resident.

Shirley A. Johnson, of Selma, was tried in Dallas County District Court on Aug. 27.

An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined Johnson received a total of $5,126 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Johnson pled guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which was suspended for two years pending restitution, and given two years of probation. She was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received.

“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,” Surtees said. “We are working with local District Attorney Offices to make sure that we can identify and prosecute those individuals who are committing these crimes. We would also like to remind employers that their timely reporting of new hires is one of the best tools we have to detect unemployment fraud. ”

Suspected unemployment compensation fraud may be reported by calling (800) 392-8019.