Man pleads guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A North Providence man plead guilty to filing false COVID-relief unemployment applications in multiple states.

Derrick Gadson, 35, lives and works in the state of Rhode Island, but applied in at least two other states, prosecutors said.

He plead guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money.

Gadson was collecting benefits in Rhode Island, but applied for benefits in Arizona and Massachusetts claiming he worked there.

He collected a total of $20,727. Gadson will be sentenced on July 11.