Cranston Woman Will Repay Unemployment: Attorney General's Office

CRANSTON, RI — Lisa Vasconcelos, 44, was collecting unemployment benefits while she was working, the state Attorney General's office said Monday. She is one of three people in court recently for cheating the system. She took $13,000, prosecutors said, while she was working for Access Healthcare in East Providence. In two other recent cases, a Providence man grabbed over $90,000 in benefits, and a North Providence man took $60,000.

Also Monday, Dale Hardy, 60, of Providence, pleaded nolo contendere for collecting over $90,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. He was sentenced to 10 years suspended with probation and ordered to pay $93,014, with minimum monthly payments of $250. He was working several jobs as a Longshoreman while he was calling in unemployment claims.

Finally, Robert Baptista, 66, of North Providence, also pleaded nolo for collecting nearly $60,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. He was sentenced to 5 years suspended with 10 years of probation and ordered to pay $59,014 with minimum monthly payments of $250. He was also working for several employers as a member of the International Longshoreman’s Association.

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