New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General

News Release

For Immediate Release
August 15, 2022

Contact:
Michael S. Garrity, Director of Communications
michael.s.garrity@doj.nh.gov | (603) 931-9375

Richard J. Lavers, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Employment Security
(603) 228-4064

Lissa D. Mascio, Unemployment Fraud Prosecutor
(603) 271-1296

State v. Juan M. Nunez

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella and Department of Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis announce that Juan M. Nunez of Haverhill, Massachusetts 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 31 weeks between April 18, 2020 and April 10, 2021, Mr. Nunez knowingly failed to disclose his employment and earnings with his employer to the Department of Employment Security in order to obtain or increase his unemployment compensation benefits. That being, Nunez submitted a weekly continued claim form 31 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. Nunez received $18,337.00 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. Nunez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Mr. Nunez'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 .

New Hampshire Department of Justice
1 Granite Place South | Concord, NH | 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3658