Somersworth man pleads guilty to unemployment fraud

DOVER - A former Somersworth man pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Thursday in Strafford Superior Court to one count of unemployment compensation fraud, a class A misdemeanor.

Between the weeks ending Oct. 19, 2019, and Nov. 23, 2019, Christopher Clark, of or formerly of Somersworth, knowingly failed to disclose his employment and earnings to the Department of Employment Security in order to obtain or increase his unemployment compensation benefits. Court records indicate that on six occasions he submitted a weekly continued claim form and answered "No" to the question: "Did you work or perform any services, including self-employment last week? Regardless of whether or not you have been paid for the work or services," while he was in fact working full time.

As a result, Clark fraudulently received $1,085.00 in unemployment compensation benefits.

Clark was sentenced to 12 months in the House of Corrections, with two days served in jail on presentencing, and the remainder of the sentence deferred for six months, and further suspended for a period of 2 years on good behavior.

To avoid future jail time Clark must also pay restitution and penalties totaling $1,302.00. He is also disqualified from receiving unemployment compensation benefits for 52 weeks.

To report possible unemployment fraud, call 1-800-852-3400, or use the online form at https://business.nh.gov/NCharge/NHES/default.asp?form_name=InsuranceFraud.