Marta Rangel ordered to pay in excess of $10,000 in restitution
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and RI Department of Labor and Training Director Charles J. Fogarty today announce that Marta Rangel, age 76, with a last known address of 606 Public Street, Providence, RI, pleaded nolo contendere yesterday before Providence Superior Court Special Magistrate Patrick T. Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting over $10,000 in Workers' Compensation insurance benefits while she was employed.
Rangel was sentenced to ten years probation and ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $10,019.05.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that between February 2010 and June 2011 Rangel failed to report that she had returned to work and failed to report her earnings while she was employed at Homecare Advantage in Cranston, RI and simultaneously receiving Workers' Compensation benefits.
The prosecution of this defendant is the latest example of Attorney General Peter Kilmartin's commitment to protect the taxpayers of Rhode Island. "Workers' Compensation Fraud contributes to the cost of doing business for us all, and will not be tolerated. Ensuring that all comply with the rules is vital to maintaining the financial integrity of the system, said Kilmartin.
"DLT has made fraud prevention, detection and prosecution key priorities for all its programs. Rooting out misuse and actively recouping trust fund dollars ensures that those funds will be available to those who qualify for them," said Charles J. Fogarty, director of the RI Department of Labor and Training. "Workers' Compensation encourages anyone who knows of fraud being perpetrated to contact our anonymous fraud line at (401) 462-8100."
Collin P. Hanrahan, an Investigator at the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Workers' Compensation Fraud and Compliance Unit was the lead investigator on the case and Special Assistant Attorney General Genevieve M. Allaire Johnson prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.