Plymouth Man One of Five Charged with Unemployement Fraud

John Hilliard, 49, of Plymouth faces 35 counts of unemployment fraud, one of five individuals facing charges brought forth by Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Five individuals have been charged in connection with collecting a combined total of more than $102,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work.

The cases are the result of investigations referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Department of Unemployment Assistance. Authorities allege that during the time the defendants were collecting unemployment benefits they collectively earned more than $196,000 from their employment.

“We allege these defendants collected unemployment benefits while continuing to work in violation of the law,” Coakley said in a statement released Monday. “Unemployment fraud puts a strain on the system and the detection, investigation, and prosecution of these crimes are important to deter fraud and return these funds back to the Commonwealth.”

Hilliard allegedly applied for and received unemployment benefits from EOLWDDUA from August 2008 to January 2009 and March 2010 to June 2010. During part of that time, Hilliard allegedly worked full time and failed to disclose his employment status to EOLWDDUA. For each of the 35 weeks that Hilliard collected unemployment benefits he allegedly notified the EOLWDDUA that he was not working, but that he was able to work and was available for work. Authorities allege Hilliard collected fraudulent benefits totaling more than $24,000 while working and collecting. During the time of the alleged fraud, Hilliard earned nearly $47,000 through his employment.

Hilliard also faces two counts of larceny over $250.

A Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against Hilliard and another defendant June 13. Three separate District Court complaints were taken out against the remaining defendants.