Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Brian J. Betances (age 31), with a last known address of 58 Cleveland Street, Central Falls, pled nolo contendere today before Providence Superior Court Special Magistrate Patrick T. Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting nearly $17,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was working full time. Betances was sentenced to two years suspended with probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,917 to the State of Rhode Island within two years.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that between May 14, 2011 and April 13, 2013, Betances failed to report any of his weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) when he called into the DLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Betances was collecting unemployment benefits he was working full time with Wal-Mart Associates Inc., PRRC Inc., d/b/a "Price Rite," and Quarles II, Inc., d/b/a "Expression Shoes."
"Today's announcement marks the second plea agreement this week by individuals charged with unemployment insurance benefits fraud, and are a result of a deliberate and coordinated effort by DLT, the Rhode Island State Police and my office to vigorously investigate and prosecute individuals who attempt to defraud the system," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "With each plea and court-ordered restitution, we are strengthening the financial health and integrity of our unemployment insurance safety net."
UI Fraud Investigator Andrew Allin started the investigation for DLT and referred it to Detective Michael Douglas of the Rhode Island State Police Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Unit. Special Assistant Attorney General Genevieve Allaire Johnson prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General and the State of Rhode Island. Funded by DLT, Allaire Johnson prosecutes all unemployment insurance fraud, worker's compensation fraud, prevailing wage violations and labor standards fraud cases.