Nurse Accused of COVID-19 Benefits Fraud Earns Diversion
Criminal Charges:
Woman charged in the Rhode Island Superior Court (Providence County) for:
- Obtaining Money under False Pretenses, in violation of R.I.G.L. § 11-41-4
- Access to a Computer for Fraudulent Purposes, in violation of R.I.G.L. § 11-52-2
Case Overview:
The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training conducted an extensive investigation into individuals who misreported their wages or unemployment status to receive weekly unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. A woman came to the attention of investigators. Though employed as a registered nurse, she failed to report that she was earning wages during the pandemic, and instead, applied for full weekly benefits over the course of 23 weeks from November 2020 to June 2021, resulting in an excess payment of approximately $11,000. Investigators notified the Rhode Island State Police, resulting in the woman’s arrest and charges in Rhode Island Superior Court for Obtaining Money under False Pretenses and Access to a Computer for Fraudulent Purposes. The nurse and single mother hired Rhode Island Fraud Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend her in this matter.
Case Result: Diversion.
If convicted of a felony, the woman faced the possibility of losing her nursing license. Over time, Attorney Calcagni successfully applied for his client to participate in the Rhode Island Superior Court Adult Diversion Program. The woman was accepted into the program with conditions that require her to make full restitution to the State for the overpayment of unemployment benefits and perform some community service. Providing she fulfills these conditions and remains trouble free for up to one year, the charges against her will be both dismissed and sealed. As a result, she will not incur a criminal conviction from this experience or any adverse impact to the nursing license.