Press Release  Mattapoisett Man Charged with Stealing More than $72,000 in Unemployment Benefits

Boston — A Mattapoisett man was indicted and arraigned on multiple charges in connection with a scheme to collect unemployment benefits while underreporting his earnings, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Lawrence Risko, age 59, of Mattapoisett, was indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury on Unemployment Fraud (8 counts) and Larceny over $250 (4 counts). He was arraigned on Monday in Suffolk Superior Court. Risko pleaded not guilty to these charges and was released on personal recognizance. Risko is scheduled to be back in court on September 9 for a pre-trial hearing.

The AG’s Office alleges that in four separate claim periods from April 2014 until October 2017, Risko underreported his earnings to the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), while he was working at JTech, a bank equipment repair company located in Milford. As a result of this underreporting, the AG’s Office alleges that Risko fraudulently collected $72,359 in unemployment benefits from the DUA. 

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

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 Commonwealth’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 may remain anonymous.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Matthew Bailey and Investigator Michael Azevedo, both of AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit, with assistance from investigators at EOLWD/DUA.

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