Two women from Troy have been charged with violating the Alabama Unemployment Compensation Law, according to the Alabama Department of Labor.

Catherine Tolbert was tried in Pike County District Court after an investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that she received a total of $4,041 in benefits she wasn’t entitled to.

Tolbert pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail – suspended for two years – and 24 months of probation. She was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits she received illegally.

Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section also determined that Jickinya Majors also received a total of $1,430 in benefits that she wasn’t entitled to.

Majors pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail – suspended for two years – and 24 months of probation. She was also required to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits she received illegally.

The two Troy women were among 15 in Alabama charged with compensation fraud and making false statements in claims for benefits.

“We at the Alabama Department of Labor want people to know that we are aggressively pursuing cases of unemployment compensation fraud,” said Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees. “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.”