Three Individuals Plead to Unemployment Insurance Benefit Fraud

PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 27 -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin issued the following news release:

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that three individuals recently pleaded to unemployment insurance benefit fraud totaling more than $26,000. To date this year, the Office has secured $ 492,096 in court-ordered restitution from those convicted of unemployment insurance fraud.

"Time and time again, we see defendants of these cases refuse to acknowledge the multiple attempts by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training to resolve the cases, resulting in prosecution and court-ordered restitution," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "While it is always preferable that these cases get resolved before prosecution, we are ready to move forward in court to ensure the state's unemployment insurance trust fund remains solvent and available for those who legitimately file claims," said Attorney General Kilmartin.

Marlene Garcia (age 52), of Providence, pleaded nolo contendere yesterday before Superior Court Magistrate Patrick Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1500 for collecting more than $11,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while she was working. Garcia was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay $11,893 in restitution at a rate no less than $205 per month.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that between April 14, 2012 and July 22, 2013, Garcia failed to accurately report her weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT) when she called in to the RIDLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize her weekly unemployment benefits. While Garcia was collecting unemployment insurance benefits, she was working for Rhode Island Hospital.

Bruce Parker (age 61), of Pawtucket, pleaded nolo contendere yesterday before Magistrate Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1500 for collecting more than $10,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was working. Parker was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay $10,016 in restitution at a rate of no less than $173 per month.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that between November 7, 2009 and November 25, 2013, Parker failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to RIDLT when he reported his wages both via telephone through the RIDLT Teleserve voice response system and the internet to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Parker was collecting unemployment insurance benefits, he was working for Washington Inventory Service in Pawtucket, RI.

Joshua Tremblay (age 41), of West Warwick, pleaded nolo contendere yesterday before Magistrate Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1500 for collecting more than $6,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was working. Tremblay was sentenced to five years of probation and he was ordered to pay $6,842 in restitution at a rate of no less than $118 per month.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that between June 8, 2012 and September 3, 2013, Tremblay failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to RIDLT when he called in to the RIDLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Tremblay was collecting unemployment benefits, he was working for the Eaton Corporation.

The cases were initiated by RIDLT fraud investigators and then referred to the Rhode Island State Police where the investigations were led by Investigator Michael Douglas and prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Carole McLaughlin the Office of Attorney General.

The Office of Attorney General is assigned a prosecutor devoted exclusively to prosecuting fraud cases referred by the RIDLT involving unemployment insurance benefit 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 RIDLT and the Office of Attorney General.