Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that three individuals pleaded nolo contendere yesterday to unemployment insurance benefit fraud with court-ordered restitution of nearly $37,000.
"Just last week, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Director Scott Jensen and myself served on a panel at the National Association of Attorneys General Eastern Region meeting to discuss the successful partnership between our two offices to crack down on unemployment insurance fraud. These three cases, and the more than 30 cases we have successfully prosecuted this year alone, show the value of working together to ensure greater accountability of our government programs," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin.
Jennifer Sampson (age 41), of Warren, pleaded nolo contendere before Superior Court Magistrate Patrick Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting more than $16,000 unemployment insurance benefits while she was working. Under the terms of the plea, Sampson was sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to pay $16,068 restitution at a rate of no less than $134 per month.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on diverse dates between June 1, 2010 and October 17, 2011, Sampson failed to accurately report her weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RI DLT) when she called in to the RI DLT Teleserve voice response system or through the internet-based system to authorize her weekly unemployment benefits. While Sampson was collecting unemployment benefits, she was working for Automated Business Machines, Inc., in Warwick.
Anthony Griffin (age 33), of Johnston, pleaded nolo contendere before Magistrate Burke to obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting more than $8,900 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was employed. Under the terms of the plea, Griffin was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $8,923 in restitution at a rate of no less than $263 per month
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on diverse dates between April 19, 2014 and July 28, 2015, Griffin failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the RI DLT when he called in to the RI DLT Teleserve voice response system or through the internet-based system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Griffin was collecting unemployment benefits, he was working for Northeastern Tree Service in Cranston.
John Vittorioso (age 29), of Cranston, pleaded nolo contendere before Magistrate Burke to obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting more than $11,800 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was employed. Under the terms of the plea, Vittorioso was sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to pay $11,848 in restitution at a rate of no less than $99 per month
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on diverse dates between May 5, 2012 and April 22, 2013, Vittorioso failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the RI DLT when he called in to the RI DLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Vittorioso was collecting unemployment benefits, he was working for SMG RI Convention Center in Providence and a Subway shop in Smithfield.
The cases were initiated by RI DLT fraud investigators and then referred to the Rhode Island State Police where the investigations were led by Investigator Michael Douglas. Special Assistant Attorney General Carole L. McLaughlin prosecuted the cases 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.
Since 2013, the Office of Attorney General prosecutor has prosecuted cases resulting in 82 convictions for unemployment insurance fraud, Workers' Compensation fraud and failure to properly pay wages, with a total of $929,097 in court-ordered restitution and back wages that has been assessed.