Massachusetts Man Arraigned For Allegedy Collecting More Than $9,000 In Unemployment Benefits While Working

Boston, MA (CompNewsNetwork) - A Waltham, Massachusetts man was arraigned on charges he schemed to collect over $9,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work.  William Preston, age 37, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (19 counts) and Larceny over $250.

According to authorities, Preston applied for unemployment benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development's Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in June 2006 while separated from his employer and began receiving benefits from June 2006 through December 2006.  During part of this time, Preston was allegedly working as a security guard at Brighton Marine Health Center, Inc. and failed to disclose his employment status to DUA.

For each of the 19 weeks that Preston collected unemployment benefits, he allegedly notified the DUA that he was not working, but that he was able to work and was available for work.  The alleged fraudulent activities were initially detected by investigators from the DUA.  Preston was allegedly fraudulently paid unemployment benefits totaling $9,196.

Indictments were returned against William Preston on July 10, 2008.  Today, Preston was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court at which time he entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance.  Preston is due back in court on September 9, 2008 for a pre-trial conference.  Clerk Magistrate Gary Wilson presided over the arraignment.  

To report unemployment fraud to the DUA, call the agency's toll free fraud hotline at 1-800-354-9927 anytime, 24 hours a day.  Callers may remain anonymous.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant Attorney General Michael J. Walsh of Attorney General Martha Coakley's Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division with assistance from investigator Scott Gisetto of the Attorney General's Office.

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