FOUR INDICTED FOR ILLEGALLY COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Defendants
Allegedly Stole More than a Combined Total of $170,000
BOSTON — Four individuals have been
charged with larceny and unemployment fraud in unrelated cases alleging they
collected more than $170,000 in combined unemployment benefits while allegedly
continuing to work, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.
These charges are the result of
investigations referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the Executive
Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Department of Unemployment
Assistance (EOLWD/DUA).
The following individuals were indicted
Thursday by a Suffolk County Grand Jury:
William Corkery
William Corkery, 55, of Braintree, was
charged with Unemployment Fraud (six counts) and Larceny over $250 (three
counts). Investigators allege that Corkery worked and underreported his wages
during 57 weeks of three unemployment claims from 2014 to 2017. During that
time, he fraudulently collected over $35,000 in unemployment benefits.
Marcelle Prou
Marcelle Prou, 44, of New Bedford, was
charged with Unemployment Fraud (eight counts) and Larceny over $250 (four counts).
Investigators allege that Prou worked and underreported her wages during 113
weeks of four unemployment claims from 2014 to 2017. During that time, she
fraudulently collected over $60,000 in unemployment benefits.
Susan Richardson
Susan Richardson, 57, of Brockton, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (eight
counts) and Larceny over $250 (four counts). Investigators allege that
Richardson worked and underreported her wages during 97 weeks of four
unemployment claims from 2014 to 2017. During that time, she fraudulently
collected over $35,000 in unemployment benefits.
Nancy Webby
Nancy Webby, 56, of Berlin, was charged
with Unemployment Fraud (eight courts) and Larceny over $250/$1,200 (four
counts). Investigators allege that Webby worked and underreported her wages
during 94 weeks of four unemployment claims from 2015 to 2018. During that
time, she fraudulently collected over $40,000 in unemployment benefits.
Each defendant will be arraigned on the
charges in Suffolk Superior Court at a later date.
These charges are allegations and all defendants are innocent until proven
guilty.
DUA’s Program Integrity Department focuses on the prevention, detection, and
the investigation of those who defraud or attempt to defraud the unemployment
insurance program. Once fraud is detected, the Program Integrity Department
works aggressively with the Attorney General’s Office and other agencies to
recover money owed to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit works to protect consumers
and the integrity of the insurance system by investigating and prosecuting
those who commit fraud against all types of insurers, including the state’s
unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems.
To report unemployment fraud, call the EOLWD/DUA’s Fraud Hotline at
1-800-354-9927 or visit www.mass.gov/lwd/ui-fraud anytime, 24 hours
a day. Callers remain anonymous.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Jared B. Cohen, Kelsey Force, Mary L. Nguyen, and Joseph Posner, with assistance from Criminal Investigators Michael Azevedo, Loreny Bernabe, and Lashauna Craig, all of AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit, and investigators at EOLWD/DUA.
沒有留言:
發佈留言