Three More Unemployment Fraud Cases Settled with Plea Deals

WARREN, RI — Susan Brown, 58, of Warren, pleaded no contest today before Superior Court Magistrate Patrick Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses. She was accused of collecting more than $14,000 in unemployment insurance benefits between Feb. 2, 2010 and Jan, 3, 2012 while she was employed at Access Healthcare Inc. in Warren, RI.

Brown was sentenced to seven years of probation and ordered to pay $14,357 in restitution at a rate of no less than $175 per month.

She was one of three suspects who took plea deals for frauds totaling almost $60,000.

“We have picked up right where we left off last year in aggressively prosecuting individuals who have stolen unemployment insurance benefits, and we will continue to do so long as people continue to think they can defraud the government without getting caught,” said Atty. Gen. Peter Kilmartin.

Yesterday, Richard Rainville, 53, of Woonsocket, pleaded nolo contendere before Superior Court Justice Joseph Montalbano to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses. He was accused of collecting more than $18,000 in unemployment insurance benefits roughly between Sept. 3, 2011 and Sept. 19, 2013 while he was employed at First Student Management, LLC, in Lincoln, RI.

Rainville was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,705, of which $2,000 was paid on the day of the plea and the remainder at a rate of no less than $288 per month.

Also yesterday, David Donahue, 56), of East Providence, pleaded nolo contendere before Justice Montalbano to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses. He was accused of collecting more than $26,000 in unemployment insurance benefits sometime between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2012 while he was employed at Hudson Liquid Asphalts and Petro Holdings.

Donahue was sentenced to ten years or probation and ordered to pay $26,092 in restitution at a rate of no less than $221 per month.