Providence Man Convicted of Unemployment Benefits Fraud

Esteban Miliano (age 41), with a last known address of 107 Henrietta Street, Providence, pleaded nolo contendre Wednesday before Providence Superior Court Justice Kristin E. Rodgers to two counts of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1,500 for collecting more than $27,000 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was employed at Sitecon Corporation in Cranston.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Miliano was sentenced to seven years suspended with probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $27,681 to the State of Rhode Island. 

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that between February 28, 2009 and February 12, 2011, and again between December 23, 2013 and September 22, 2014, Miliano failed to report any of his weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training when he called in to the RIDLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits.  While Miliano was collecting unemployment benefits he was working for Sitecon Corporation.

“My Office, along with our partners at the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, continue to uncover, investigate, and prosecute individuals who defraud our unemployment benefits system,” said Attorney General Kilmartin.  “Our efforts have paid off, with the Courts ordering hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution returned to the State.  In addition, the increased attention on those who are prosecuted serves as a strong deterrent to anyone thinking they might be able to get away with collecting benefits while gainfully employed.”

The investigation was initiated by RIDLT fraud investigators and then referred to the Rhode Island State Police.  The investigation was led by Detective Michael Douglas of the Rhode Island State Police Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Unit.  Special Assistant Attorney General Carole McLaughlin prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.