Four charged with unemployment fraud

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Four people charged with unemployment fraud for allegedly receiving benefits while working full time faced a judge Thursday.

Jeffrey Walsh, 45, of South Attleboro, Brian Caruso, 32, of Watertown; and 55-year-old Terrence Shields, of Taunton Walsh were arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court. Renee Pittman, 44, of Belmont, was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.

The charges come as the result of investigations referred to Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development's Division of Unemployment Assistance.

The four are accused of defrauding the Commonwealth of nearly $80,000 in benefits.

"Especially in these tough economic times, we need to ensure that the proper resources are given to those who legitimately need unemployment benefits from the Commonwealth," Attorney General Coakley said. "Our Office will continue to investigate and prosecute cases of unemployment fraud in order to protect taxpayer funds."