Department of Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis and Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announce that Derek Perry of North Chelmsford, Massachusetts pleaded guilty on August 21, 2017 in the Merrimack County Superior Court to 1 count of class A felony unemployment compensation fraud. Between July 26, 2014 and October 19, 2014, Mr. Perry filed for 13 weeks of unemployment compensation benefits while knowingly failing to report his employment in order to obtain additional benefits. As a result, he fraudulently received unemployment benefits during that period.

Mr. Perry was sentenced to 12 months in the House of Corrections with all but 6 days deferred for 6 months and then suspended for 2 years, conditioned on good behavior and compliance with all of the remaining terms of his sentence. Mr. Perry is disqualified from the receipt of unemployment compensation benefits for a period of 52 weeks. Additionally, Mr. Perry paid restitution in full for all benefits paid during the time period charged in the amount of $5,122.00 plus a 20% statutory penalty of $1,024.40 (totaling $6,146.40).

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