Press Release

Press Release  Four Indicted for Illegally Collecting Unemployment Benefits

Defendants Allegedly Stole More than a Combined Total of $170,000
For immediate release:
12/04/2020
  • Office of Attorney General Maura Healey

Media Contact   for Four Indicted for Illegally Collecting Unemployment Benefits

Chloe Gotsis

BOSTON Four individuals have been charged with larceny and unemployment fraud in unrelated cases alleging they collected more than $170,000 in combined unemployment benefits while allegedly continuing to work, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

These charges are the result of investigations referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Department of Unemployment Assistance (EOLWD/DUA). 

The following individuals were indicted Thursday by a Suffolk County Grand Jury:

William Corkery

William Corkery, 55, of Braintree, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (six counts) and Larceny over $250 (three counts). Investigators allege that Corkery worked and underreported his wages during 57 weeks of three unemployment claims from 2014 to 2017. During that time, he fraudulently collected over $35,000 in unemployment benefits.

Marcelle Prou

Marcelle Prou, 44, of New Bedford, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (eight counts) and Larceny over $250 (four counts). Investigators allege that Prou worked and underreported her wages during 113 weeks of four unemployment claims from 2014 to 2017. During that time, she fraudulently collected over $60,000 in unemployment benefits.

Susan Richardson

Susan Richardson, 57, of Brockton, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (eight counts) and Larceny over $250 (four counts). Investigators allege that Richardson worked and underreported her wages during 97 weeks of four unemployment claims from 2014 to 2017. During that time, she fraudulently collected over $35,000 in unemployment benefits.

Nancy Webby

Nancy Webby, 56, of Berlin, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (eight courts) and Larceny over $250/$1,200 (four counts). Investigators allege that Webby worked and underreported her wages during 94 weeks of four unemployment claims from 2015 to 2018. During that time, she fraudulently collected over $40,000 in unemployment benefits.

Each defendant will be arraigned on the charges in Suffolk Superior Court at a later date.

These charges are allegations and all defendants are innocent until proven guilty.

DUA’s Program Integrity Department focuses on the prevention, detection, and the investigation of those who defraud or attempt to defraud the unemployment insurance program. Once fraud is detected, the Program Integrity Department works aggressively with the Attorney General’s Office and other agencies to recover money owed to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit works to protect consumers and the integrity of the insurance system by investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against all types of insurers, including the state’s unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems.

To report unemployment fraud, call the EOLWD/DUA’s Fraud Hotline at 1-800-354-9927 or visit www.mass.gov/lwd/ui-fraud anytime, 24 hours a day. Callers remain anonymous.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Jared B. Cohen, Kelsey Force, Mary L. Nguyen, and Joseph Posner, with assistance from Criminal Investigators Michael Azevedo, Loreny Bernabe, and Lashauna Craig, all of AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit, and investigators at EOLWD/DUA.

 

 

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Media Contact   for Four Indicted for Illegally Collecting Unemployment Benefits

  • Office of the Attorney General 

    Attorney General Maura Healey is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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