Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that two individuals pleaded nolo contendere recently to unemployment insurance benefit fraud with court-ordered restitution of approximately $45,000. In 2016, the State has successfully prosecuted 34 individuals for unemployment insurance benefit fraud, with court-ordered restitution of approximately $465,000.
Wayne Wilcox (age 47), of Central Falls, RI, pleaded nolo contendere Monday before Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting more than $36,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was employed. Wilcox was sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to pay $36,201 in restitution at a rate of no less than $307 per month.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on diverse dates between June 2, 2007 and May 19, 2012, Wilcox failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT) when he called in to the RIDLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Wilcox was collecting unemployment insurance benefits, he was working for Misco Inc. and RGIS, LLC.
Victor Vazquez (age 40), Cranston, RI, pleaded nolo contendere yesterday before Superior Court Magistrate Patrick Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting more than $8,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was employed. Vazquez was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay $8,814 restitution at a rate of no less than $200 per month.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on diverse dates between January 12, 2013 and April 29, 2013, Vazquez failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the RIDLT when he called in to the RIDLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Vazquez was collecting unemployment insurance benefits, he was working for the Tradesman International, Inc.
"The joint partnership of my office, RIDLT, and the RI State Police to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who fraudulently collect unemployment insurance benefits continues to reap benefits in terms of court-ordered restitution and as a deterrent for those who think they can get away with stealing benefits while gainfully employed," said Attorney General Kilmartin
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.