A New London woman was among six people charged with larceny and unemployment compensation fraud this week in the first arrests made by a new unit within the chief state's attorney's office established to target fraud in the receipt of unemployment compensation benefits.

Christi L. Sward, 50, of 185 Pequot Ave. and others each were charged with one count of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and one count of unemployment compensation fraud.

State authorities allege Sward collected $16,655 in unemployment benefits during several time periods in 2009 and 2010 while she was employed. Sward claimed she had been laid off when, in fact, she had been discharged, according to a press statement from the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office.

The arrests were made Thursday and Friday by Inspectors from the Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney following complaints from the Department of Labor. The unit is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The federal government estimates $3.3 billion in unemployment benefits were fraudulently obtained nationwide in 2011.

Sward was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on Thursday. Sward faces up to 25 years in prison and/or $25,000 in fines if found guilty of the two felony charges.