Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Carl Graham (age 62), of Pawtucket, pleaded nolo contendre today before Superior Court Magistrate John F. McBurney to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1,500 for fraudulently collecting more than $17,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was working at Amos House and AIDS Care Ocean State.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Graham was sentenced to eight years suspended with probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,679.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that between January 12, 2011 and January 9, 2012, Graham failed to report his weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT) when he called in to the RIDLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Graham was collecting unemployment benefits he was working at Amos House and AIDS Care Ocean State.
"This is the second conviction this week of individuals defrauding our unemployment insurance benefit program," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. "Despite increased enforcement and prosecution of those who commit this crime, some people continue to believe that it's a victimless crime and they can get away with it. Our track record at successful prosecution should serve as a warning that they will be caught."
The case was investigated by the RIDLT Fraud Unit and Detective Michael Douglas of the Rhode Island State Police Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Unit and prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Carole L. McLaughlin on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.