East Providence Residents Charged In Unemployment Fraud Probe

The following is from a press release issued by the Rhode Island State Police:

Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent, of the Rhode Island State Police and commissioner of public safety, announced that on Thursday, March 15, members of the Rhode Island State Police, assisted by the United States Marshals Service and local police officers from the cities of Pawtucket and Warwick, and the town of Johnston, arrested 24 individuals for the felony offense of obtaining money under false pretenses over $500.00.

Two men from East Providence were named:

Anthony B. Amaral, age 31, of 128 Martin Street and Richard C. Daigle, age 47, of 273 Central Avenue.

The cases were referred to the Rhode Island State Police Detective Bureau by investigators from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Fraud Unit who had identified these individuals as falsely representing to the Department of Labor and Training that they were unemployed or under reported the wages they were receiving from their employer. By providing false information, these individuals collectively received $225,236 in unemployment benefits they were not entitled to. 

Those arrested were transported to the Sixth Division District Court in Providence, arraigned before the Honorable Judge William Clifton, and released on $10,000 personal recognizance to appear for a pre-trial arraignment conference scheduled on May 17. If convicted, these individuals could be sentenced to imprisonment up to ten (10) years, fined up to five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both. Further arrests are anticipated.

These arrests are part of a continuing effort by the State Police and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training to arrest individuals engaged in this type of criminal activity. 

“It’s unfortunate that individuals continue to abuse unemployment insurance," said Colonel O’Donnell. " These services are intended for our citizens in need."

“I applaud the State Police and the Department of Labor and Training for their continued efforts to crack down on unemployment insurance fraud," said Governor Lincoln D. Chafee.

"We at the Department of Labor and Training applaud the excellent work of the Rhode Island State Police, and believe that our ongoing collaboration with law enforcement serves as an important deterrent to future unemployment insurance fraud," Department of Labor and Training Director Charles J. Fogarty said.

Fogarty requests that employers wishing to report unemployment insurance fraud contact the RI Department of Labor and Training Fraud Unit at (401) 462-1522.