Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella and Department of Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis announce that Wayne P. Hamilton of East Hampstead, New Hampshire has been indicted in Rockingham County Superior Court, on one count of unemployment compensation fraud, a class A felony.

The State alleges that over the course of 51 weeks between May 2, 2020 and April 17, 2021, Mr. Hamilton knowingly failed to disclose his employment and earnings with Taylor Communications and Schwan's Consumer Brands to the Department of Employment Security, in order to obtain or increase his unemployment compensation benefits. That being, Hamilton submitted a weekly continued claim form 51 times, and answered "No" to the question: "Last week, did you work or perform services? This includes just starting a new job, working part-time employment, or working for yourself, regardless of whether you have received payment," and further failed to report the hours he did work and wages he earned. As a result, Mr. Hamilton received $36,177.00 in unemployment compensation benefits, including enhanced federal benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, to which he was not entitled.

The charges and allegations set forth in the indictment are merely accusations, and Mr. Hamilton is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Mr. Hamilton's arraignment is scheduled for September 16, 2022 in Rockingham County Superior Court.

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 compensation trust fund. To report possible unemployment fraud, call 1-800-852-3400, or use the online form at: https://business.nh.gov/NCharge/NHES/default.asp?form_name=InsuranceFraud .