Five Mainers have been convicted of unemployment fraud, the Maine Department of Labor announced Tuesday in a press release.

The five will be required to pay more than $38,000 in restitution. Unemployment benefit fraud involving amounts more than $1,000 is a felony.

“We will not tolerate unemployment fraud,” said Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette said in a statement. “Our investigators continue to identify and move felony cases to prosecution.”

According to the state, those convicted of fraud this year are: Joseph S. Baker, 29, of Bangor, Shawn Betts, 27, of Deer Isle, Nathaniel Jamieson, 34, of East Machias, Kevin D. Nelson, 58, of Milbridge, and Kayla E. Massicotte, 26, of Mount Desert.

Each case was handled separately, with different incarceration sentences, restitution amounts and probation terms.

Paquette said 142 cases are pending prosecution across the state. Unemployment fraud typically involves misrepresenting information to obtain benefits, and may involve claiming benefits after returning to work or claiming to be looking for work when they have not tried.


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