Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that three individuals recently pleaded to unemployment insurance benefit fraud totaling more than $165,700 in court-ordered restitution.
"Our office, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training and law enforcement, continue to prosecute fraud and abuse in our unemployment insurance benefit system by individuals who are otherwise employed," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "The purpose of unemployment insurance is to provide individuals a safety net should they lose their job, not to serve as a personal piggy bank to the otherwise gainfully employed."
Lisa Vasconcelos (age 44), of Cranston, pleaded nolo contendere last week before Superior Court Justice William E. Carnes to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses (OMUFP) over $1,500 for collecting more than $13,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while she was employed. Under the terms of the plea, Vasconcelos was sentenced to two years suspended with probation and ordered to pay $13,715 in restitution, at a rate of no less than $150 per month.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on dates between June 6, 2009 and June 27, 2011, Vasconcelos failed to accurately report her weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RI DLT) via telephone through the Tele-Serve system to authorize her weekly unemployment benefits. While Vasconcelos was collecting unemployment benefits, she was working for Access Healthcare located in East Providence, RI.
The case was initiated by RIDLT fraud investigators and then referred to the Rhode Island State Police where the investigation was led by Investigator Michael Douglas and prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Carole McLaughlin of the Office of Attorney General.
Earlier today, Dale Hardy (age 60), of Providence, pleaded nolo contendere before Superior Court Justice Joseph A. Montalbano to one count of OMUFP over $1,500 for collecting over $90,000 in unemployment insurance benefits to which he was not entitled. The defendant was sentenced to 10 years suspended with probation and ordered to pay $93,014, with minimum monthly payments of $250.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on dates between January 1, 2009 and April 17, 2013, Hardy failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the RI DLT when he called the Tele-Serve system to report his weekly earnings and authorize his unemployment benefits. While Hardy was collecting unemployment insurance benefits, he was working for multiple employers as a member of the International Longshoreman's Association.
Robert Baptista (age 66), of North Providence, also pleaded nolo contendere earlier today before Justice Montalbano to one count of OMUFP over $1,500 for collecting nearly $60,000 in unemployment insurance benefits to which he was not entitled. The defendant was sentenced to 5 years suspended with 10 years of probation and ordered to pay $59,014 with minimum monthly payments of $250.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on dates between January 17, 2009 and December 9, 2013, Baptista failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the RI DLT when he called the Tele-Serve system to report his weekly earnings and authorize his unemployment benefits. While Baptista was collecting unemployment insurance benefits, he was working for multiple employers as a member of the International Longshoreman's Association.
The two cases were initiated by RIDLT fraud investigators who forwarded the information to the U.S. Department of Labor and the Rhode Island State Police. The investigation was led by Susan Murphy, Special Agent, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and Corporal Kevin Kojoian of the Rhode Island State Police, and prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Carole L. McLaughlin.