RI Department Of Labor Worker Charged In $115K Fraud Case

PROVIDENCE, RI — The chief labor standards examiner for the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training was arrested Thursday after Rhode Island State Police said she stole 132 settlement checks totaling more than $115,000.

Wendy Antonelli, 59, of Foster, was charged with obtaining money under false pretenses, forgery and counterfeiting in general, and money laundering.

The investigation into Antonelli began after State Police said they received a complaint from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.

Antonelli was responsible for overseeing employee misclassification investigations and distribution of misclassification settlement checks intended for employees of the businesses investigated. An employee is misclassified when their employer incorrectly deems the employee as an independent contractor.

State Police said Antonelli fraudulently obtained employee misclassification checks intended for 132 people, forging their signatures and depositing the checks into her bank accounts for personal use. Antonelli was also accused of transferring money to other bank accounts in an attempt to mask the source of the checks.

Antonelli was employed as the chief labor standards examiner for about seven years.

State Police said they got a warrant for Antonelli's arrest, but she surrendered herself to State Police Headquarters. She was arraigned and released on $10,000 bail.

Anyone that believes they are entitled to a settlement check should contact the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Workforce and Safety Regulation Division at 401-462-8568.