Former DLT employee pleads guilty to federal conspiracy, computer fraud

PROVIDENCE – A former R.I. Department of Labor and Training senior employment interviewer pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence Tuesday to conspiring to commit mail fraud, theft of government funds and accessing a protected computer to commit fraud, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Between June 2009 and February 2015, Ambulai R. Sheku, a 37-year-old from Providence, used his authorized access to DLT records to benefit himself and others. His actions resulted in the fraudulent disbursement of $508,691 in unemployment insurance benefits, $350,606 of which were federal dollars.

Sheku altered the mailing addresses of approved unemployment insurance beneficiaries which caused banks to mail unemployment insurance benefits to unauthorized recipients. He also extended the expiration of benefits for individuals knowingly profiting in the scheme. He also approved claims to be placed by employed people, who, by virtue of their employment, would be categorized as ineligible.

Sheku is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 24.

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This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly and remains under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, State Police and the U.S. Department of Labor, with the assistance of the R.I. Department of Labor and Training and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

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