Robert McBride Ordered to Pay $9,578 in Restitution to the UI Fund
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Robert McBride (age 60), of Providence, pleaded nolo contendere yesterday before Providence Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Procaccini to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1,500 for collecting more than $9,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was working. Under the terms of the plea, McBride was sentenced to ten years of probation and ordered to pay $9,578 in restitution at a rate of no less than $80 per month.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on diverse dates between September 1, 2007 and June 30, 2011, McBride failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training when he called in to the RIDLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While McBride was collecting unemployment benefits he was working for Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence and Washington Inventory Service in Pawtucket.
"This defendant had ample opportunity to resolve this matter through administrative channels, yet failed to do so, leaving no choice but criminal prosecution," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "It is always preferable for a person to work with RIDLT to pay back money owed without going through the criminal justice system. If that fails, my Office is fully prepared to charge and prosecute anyone who abuses the system. Our partnership with RIDLT has produced tangible results, both in terms of court-ordered restitution as well as a deterrent to anyone who thinks there will be no consequences for stealing unemployment insurance benefits."
The case was initiated by RI-DLT and then referred to the Rhode Island State Police where the investigation was led by Investigator Michael Douglas. Special Assistant Attorney General Carole L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.
The Office of Attorney General is assigned a prosecutor devoted exclusively to prosecuting fraud cases referred by the RI-DLT involving unemployment insurance benefits fraud, workers' compensation fraud, prevailing wage violations, and labor standards violations. The prosecutor in this position is solely responsible for screening, charging, prosecuting, tracking, and reporting case results to RI-DLT and the Office of Attorney General.