Warwick Man Pleads No Contest to Unemployment Insurance Fraud

WARWICK, RI — Two men, one from Providence and one from Warwick, pleaded no contest to unemployment fraud in Superior Court Tuesday, where a judge ordered them to pay a combined restitution totaling more than $14,000.

Robert Wright, 71, of Warwick, pleaded no contest before Superior Court Justice Maureen Keough to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting $6,981 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was working. Wright was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution at a rate of no less than $120 per month, according to a release form RI Attorney General Peter Kilmartin’s office.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on diverse dates between Dec. 18, 2010 and Jan. 17, 2012, Wright 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 Wright was collecting unemployment benefits he was working for MF Construction in Portsmouth.

Also on Tuesday, Jonathan Flores, aka Jonathan Torres, 27, of Pawtucket, pleaded nolo contendere before Superior Court Justice Maureen Keough to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting $7,273 in employment insurance benefits while he was working.

Flores was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution at a rate of no less than $125 per month.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on diverse dates between April 12, 2014 and July 31, 2014, Flores failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RI DLT) when he called in to the RI DLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits.

While Torres was collecting unemployment benefits he was working for ServePro in Providence.

The cases were initiated by RI DLT fraud investigator Andrew Allin and then referred to the Rhode Island State Police, where the investigations were led by Investigator Michael Douglas. Special Assistant Attorney General Carole L. McLaughlin prosecuted the cases on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.

“Nearly every month, my Office is successfully prosecuting another individual for defrauding our unemployment insurance system,” said Attorney General Kilmartin.  “The partnership between my Office, RI DLT and the Rhode Island State Police is an excellent example of state agencies working cooperatively to stop fraud and abuse in our social service programs.”