Several in Massachusetts charged with larceny and unemployment fraud after AG investigation

BOSTON — Four individuals have been charged with larceny and unemployment fraud in unrelated cases alleging they collected more than $170,000 in combined unemployment benefits while allegedly continuing to work, Attorney General Maura Healey announced Friday.

These charges are the result of investigations referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Department of Unemployment Assistance (EOLWD/DUA).

The following individuals were indicted Thursday by a Suffolk County Grand Jury:

William Corkery, 55, of Braintree, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (six counts) and Larceny over $250 (three counts). Investigators allege that Corkery worked and underreported his wages during 57 weeks of three unemployment claims from 2014 to 2017. During that time, he fraudulently collected over $35,000 in unemployment benefits.

Marcelle Prou, 44, of New Bedford, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (eight counts) and Larceny over $250 (four counts). Investigators allege that Prou worked and underreported her wages during 113 weeks of four unemployment claims from 2014 to 2017. During that time, she fraudulently collected over $60,000 in unemployment benefits.

Susan Richardson, 57, of Brockton, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (eight counts) and Larceny over $250 (four counts). Investigators allege that Richardson worked and underreported her wages during 97 weeks of four unemployment claims from 2014 to 2017. During that time, she fraudulently collected over $35,000 in unemployment benefits.

Nancy Webby, 56, of Berlin, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (eight courts) and Larceny over $250/$1,200 (four counts). Investigators allege that Webby worked and underreported her wages during 94 weeks of four unemployment claims from 2015 to 2018. During that time, she fraudulently collected over $40,000 in unemployment benefits.

Each defendant will be arraigned on the charges in Suffolk Superior Court at a later date.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Jared B. Cohen, Kelsey Force, Mary L. Nguyen, and Joseph Posner, with assistance from Criminal Investigators Michael Azevedo, Loreny Bernabe, and Lashauna Craig, all of AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit, and investigators at EOLWD/DUA.