Cranston Man Among 24 Arrested In Unemployment Fraud Case

Rhode Island State Police Supt. Col. Steven G. O’Donnell today announced the arrests of 24 people for unemployment fraud, including one man from Cranston.

The formal charge the 24 face is the felony offense of obtaining money under false pretenses over $500.

Officers from the Cranston Police Department as well as members of the police departments in Warwick and Pawtucket and the U.S. Marshals Service, assisted the State Police in their investigation into fraudulent collection of state unemployment benefits, according to a press release issued by the State Police on Mar. 15.

Among those arrested was Cranston resident Jason Aponte, 29, of 65 Hazelwood St. Collectively, the 24 people collected more than $225,000 in unemployment benefits for which they were not eligible.

“It’s unfortunate that individuals continue to abuse unemployment insurance.  These services are intended for our citizens in need," O'Donnell said in the statement. "The Rhode Island State Police and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, in a collaborative effort, will continue to aggressively and proactively seek out these offenders.”

The cases were referred to the Rhode Island State Police Detective Bureau by investigators from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Fraud Unit who had identified these individuals as falsely representing to the Department of Labor and Training that they were unemployed or under-reported the wages they were receiving from their employer.

Everyone arrested were arraigned in Sixth Division District Court in Providence before Judge William Clifton and released on $10,000 personal recognizance.

They will return to court on May 17 for a prearraignment conference.

A conviction could result in up to 10 years in jail and a fine of $5,000 or both.

The State Police said more arrests will most likely be on the way.

Department of Labor and Training Director Charles J. Fogarty said the department applauded the "excellent work" of the police and believes that the arrests "serves as an important deterrent to future unemployment insurance fraud."

The complete list of those arrested:

• Jaime A. Martin, 37, 2 Thornton Avenue (Apartment 2), Smithfield
• Edward I. Wood, 35, 18 Lamphear Street, Coventry
• Donald S. Hughes, 40, 133 Longmeadow Avenue, Warwick
• Ryan D. Sousa, 27,12 Clarendon Street, Gloucester, Mass.
• Anthony B. Amaral, 31, 128 Martin Street, East Providence
• John W. Merritt, 50, 106 June Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island
• Zoewede T. Bright, 26, 155 Obed Avenue, North Providence
• Matthew E. Silvia, 50, 29 Franklin Street, Warren
• Reynaldo V. Cockrum, 37, 41A West Main Road, Little Compton
• Rene H. Boudreault, 48, 853 Hope Street, Providence
• Julio N. Barros, 55, 98 Gano Street, Providence
• Heather A. Waldon, 40, 19 Chase Street (Apartment 3) Pawtucket
• Mary E. Tonucci, 47, 110 Oakdale Avenue, Pawtucket
• Richard C. Daigle, 47, 273 Central Avenue, East Providence
• Larry Ashley, 43, 100 Donelson Street,  Providence
• Leisa K. Smith, 46, 148 Veazie Street, Providence
• Jason Aponte , 29, 65 Hazelwood Street ( Apt. 5), Cranston
• Melissa L. Jackson, 38, 215 Hanover Street,, Providence
• Robert J. Messier, 31, 35 Woodside Avenue, Pawtucket
• Steven Berardinelli, 57, 78 Metcalf Street, Providence
• Kristin O. Trexler, 41, 3 Alma Avenue, Bristol
• Peter J. Lombardi, 62, 5 Scenic Road, Johnston
• Vivian A. McSwain 31, 34 Armistice Boulevard, Pawtucket
• Daniel M. Salvas Jr., 30, 604 Providence Street, Woonsocket