Department of Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis and Attorney General Joseph A. Foster announce that Lisa Courtois of Manchester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday to one count of class A felony unemployment compensation fraud. Between December 26, 2009 and July 2, 2011, Ms. Courtois filed 80 weekly claims for unemployment compensation benefits while knowingly underreporting her weekly gross earnings in order to obtain or increase her unemployment compensation benefits. As a result of her fraudulent reporting, Ms. Courtois received an additional $15,859.62 in unemployment benefits.

Ms. Courtois was sentenced to 12 months in the House of Corrections, with nine months suspended for two years, with the ability for release on administrative home confinement. The suspended portion of her sentence is conditioned on good behavior, use of her likeness in the Department of Employment Security Benefits Rights Interview discussing the ramifications of committing unemployment fraud, and meaningful participation in any counseling, treatment and educational programs as directed by the correctional authority. Additionally, she is disqualified from the receipt of unemployment compensation benefits for 52 weeks. Ms. Courtois paid restitution in full for all benefits received during the time period charged, in the amount of $20,465.00 plus a 20% penalty of $4,093.00.

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.