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Providence Man Pleads to Unemployment Insurance Benefit Fraud

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Edmond McNeil, aka Edward McNeil (age 56), with a last known address of 505 Prairie Avenue, Providence, pled nolo contendere yesterday before Providence Superior Court Magistrate Patrick T. Burke to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses for collecting more $10,750 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was employed. McNeil was sentenced to six years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,757 to the State of Rhode Island.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that between October 24, 2009 and September 17, 2011, McNeil failed to report any of his weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) when he called into the DLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While McNeil was collecting unemployment benefits he was working for Amtrol Inc. in West Warwick, and Westaff USA Inc. in Providence, RI.

"DLT, the State Police and my office have consistently and continually brought those who defraud the system to justice. The partnership between the agencies has resulted in restitution to the State in excess of $360,000 and serves as a cautionary tale for anyone considering collecting benefits while working," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin.

DLT's UI-TDI Fraud Unit handled the case initially, referring it to the Rhode Island State Police Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Unit, where Detective Adam Kennett completed the investigation.

Special Assistant Attorney General Genevieve Allaire Johnson prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General and the State of Rhode Island. Funded by RI DLT, Allaire Johnson prosecutes all unemployment insurance fraud, worker's compensation fraud, prevailing wage violations and labor standards fraud cases.

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