2 Rhode Islanders Convicted Of Unemployment Fraud

PROVIDENCE, RI — Two Rhode Islanders were ordered to repay more than $15,000 to the state after pleading guilty to fraudulently receiving unemployment benefits from the Department of Labor and Training by not reporting their earned wages. In both cases, the unemployment benefits were received before the coronavirus pandemic.

The first case happened between January 2014 and February 2016. Richard Geminiani, 57, of Woonsocket, collected unemployment benefits while working for a window installation company, according to Attorney General Peter Neronha's office. He pleaded no contest to charges of obtaining money under false pretenses and was given a four-year suspended sentence and ordered to pay back $6,477 to the state.

The second case happened between January 2019 and July 2019. According to the attorney general's office, Sareth Chea, 38, of Providence, worked at a bank, while collecting unemployment insurance. Chea is also a former DLT employee, meaning she understood the wage reporting process. She pleaded no contest to one count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1,500 and was sentenced to four years of probation and ordered to repay $8,840.

"Regardless of circumstances, when individuals collect benefits that they aren’t entitled to, they reduce the amount of benefits that are available to Rhode Islanders who really need them," Neronha said. "While the conduct of the defendants happened prior to this year, I think everyone has witnessed during our government’s response to the COVID pandemic how critical these funds are to those who are really struggling. Although the pandemic may have heightened the public’s awareness of issues related to unemployment benefits, this work has always been important because of its impact on our ability to help those who need it."

Related: 5 Charged In Ongoing RI Unemployment Fraud Investigation