Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald and Department of Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis announce that Joseph Parsons of Chester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty on May 1, 2018, and was sentenced today
in the Merrimack County Superior Court to one count of theft by deception, a class A misdemeanor. Between
November 7, 2012 and November 5, 2013, Mr. Parsons filed for unemployment compensation benefits while failing to disclose his self-employment when asked, which prevented the Department of Employment Security from determining whether he was eligible to receive those benefits. As a result of this deception, he received $13,226.00 in unemployment benefits.

Mr. Parsons was sentenced to 12 months in the Merrimack County House of Corrections with all but 30 days deferred for 12 months, and then suspended for 2 years, conditioned on good behavior, the payment of restitution plus a 20% penalty, totaling $15,871.20, and the use of his likeness in the Department of Employment Security Benefits Rights Interview that discusses the ramifications of committing unemployment fraud. Mr. Parsons is also disqualified from the receipt of unemployment compensation benefits for 52 weeks.

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.