Warwick, RI — A Warwick and a Johnston man pleaded no contest to unemployment insurance fraud Tuesday, the former who worked at Millwork One, Inc., in Cranston and the latter who worked at Roof Doctor, Inc. in Warwick, each while collecting state benefits.
Kevin Rafferty, 37, of Johnston, pleaded no contest before Providence Superior Court Magistrate Patrick Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1,500 for collecting more than $10,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was working. Rafferty was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,104 to the State of Rhode Island, according to Attorney General Peter Kilmartin’s office.
The State was prepared to prove that between March 15, 2008 and June 14, 2011, Rafferty failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RI-DLT) to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Rafferty was collecting unemployment benefits, he was working for Roof Doctor, Inc.
William Marson, 36, of Warwick, also pleaded no contest before Magistrate Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1,500 for collecting nearly $12,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was working. Marson was sentenced to five and one half years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,993 to the State of Rhode Island.
The State was prepared to prove that between April 1, 2010 and May 30, 2013, Marson failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the RI-DLT when he called in to the RI-DLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Marson was collecting unemployment benefits, he was working for Millwork One, Inc., located in Cranston, RI.
“My office continues to hold those individuals accountable who fraudulently game the system at the expense of risking the integrity of our unemployment insurance system, which is there as a safety net for those who become unemployed,” said Kilmartin.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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