NEW YORK (AP) — Two air traffic controllers at Kennedy Airport in New York have been charged with allegedly stealing more than $170,000 by manipulating payroll records.

Jeffrey Evagues, of Manorville, Long Island, and Asof Ali, of Queens, were arrested Thursday and charged with stealing federal employee benefits and payroll.

They're accused of modifying computer records at least 300 times to indicate they had worked when they were actually off. The alleged scheme occurred between 2011 and this year.

Prosecutors say security cameras caught the two defendants entering the room with the payroll computers.

According to Newsday (http://nwsdy.li/1xgfd0F ), prosecutor say Evagues claimed unearned pay of $87,000; Ali claimed $83,000.

Their lawyers didn't return calls requesting comment.

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