Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today announced that James M. Casale (54), with a last known address of 110 Dunedin Street, Cranston RI, pleaded nolo contendere today before Providence Superior Court Associate Justice William E. Carnes, Jr., to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting more than $10,000 in Workers' Compensation insurance benefits while he was employed.
Casale was sentenced to four years suspended with probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,232.00.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that between February 2007 and August 2007, Casale failed to report that he had returned to work for his painting company, James Casale Painting & Wallpapering Inc., while he was simultaneously receiving Workers' Compensation benefits.
"All Rhode Islanders pay the price when someone knowingly commits workers' compensation fraud," said Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin. "Fraud causes higher insurance costs for employers and costs honest workers wages and benefits, with consumers eventually paying more at the cash register. With a prosecutor dedicated to handle all workers' compensation fraud, unemployment insurance fraud and theft of wages cases, we have secured more than a dozen pleas and more than $200,000 in court-ordered restitution to the state's safety net programs."
"At a time when public trust of institutions both public and private is low, we hope this result shows that government agencies can and do work well together and hold accountable those who break the law," said DLT Director Charles J. Fogarty. "I am grateful for the level of cooperation between the staffs of the Attorney General's Office and DLT that brought about the prosecution and conviction of the defendant."
Collin P. Hanrahan, an Investigator at the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Workers' Compensation Fraud and Compliance Unit led the investigation. Special Assistant Attorney General Genevieve Allaire Johnson prosecuted the case on behalf of the State.