Department of Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis and Attorney General Joseph A. Foster announce that Erin Richmond of Londonderry, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today to one count of class A felony unemployment compensation fraud. Between August 16, 2015 and December 6, 2015, Ms. Richmond filed for 15 weeks of unemployment compensation benefits while knowingly failing to report her employment in order to obtain benefits. As a result, she fraudulently received $4,515.00 in unemployment benefits.

Ms. Richmond was sentenced to 12 months in the House of Corrections, with all but 10 days suspended for two years conditioned on good behavior, meaningful participation in any counseling, treatment and educational programs as directed by the correctional authority, and the use of her likeness in the Department of Employment Security Benefits Rights Interview video, which discusses the ramifications of committing unemployment fraud. Ms. Richmond is disqualified from the receipt of unemployment compensation benefits for 52 weeks. Additionally, Ms. Richmond paid full restitution in the amount of $4,515.00 plus a 20% penalty of $903.00 for a total of $5,418.00.

The Department of Employment Security provides unemployment compensation benefits to eligible claimants who are unemployed through no fault of their own. The Department investigates and prosecutes both criminal and civil unemployment compensation fraud, with the goal of protecting New Hampshire's unemployment fund.