Louis DiMarco, Jr., resigned position as Rome City Councilman as part of guilty plea; will pay full restitution
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the conviction of Rome City Councilman Louis DiMarco, Jr., for stealing $19,035 in unemployment insurance benefits over an eleven-month period.
Pursuant to the plea agreement signed by DiMarco and according to statements made in court Aug. 16, 2017, DiMarco admitted that every week between Oct. 9, 2011, through Sept. 9, 2012, he falsely certified to the state Department of Labor that he was not employed in any capacity, when he was, in fact, employed as a Rome City Councilman during this time period. DiMarco further admitted that based on these false certifications, he received $19,035 in unemployment insurance benefits that he was not entitled to.
“Unemployment insurance benefits exist to protect hardworking New Yorkers who suddenly find themselves without a job, not to fatten the wallets of those who are already gainfully employed,” Schneiderman said. “Public officials have a special responsibility to honor and maintain the public trust. Councilman DiMarco clearly violated that trust in this deliberate scheme to steal from New York state.”
“Under Governor Cuomo, the state Department of Labor has no tolerance for the theft of important social safety net benefits from anyone,” said State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “When the Department of Labor uncovers fraud such as this the investigation is referred to law enforcement. I thank the Attorney General and his team for pursuing the case and ensuring restitution is paid.”
DiMarco pleaded guilty today before the Honorable Gregory J. Amoroso in Rome City Court, to one count of Petit Larceny. In accordance with the guilty plea, DiMarco paid full restitution in court today in the amount of $19,035 to the state Department of Labor. DiMarco also resigned from his position last week as councilman as part of the guilty plea. DiMarco was sentenced by Judge Amoroso to a one year conditional one-yeare.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Bridget Holohan Scally and Mary Gorman of the Public Integrity Bureau with assistance from Analyst Sara Pogorzelski. The Public Integrity Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Daniel Cort and Deputy Bureau Chief Stacy Aronowitz. The investigation was conducted by the state Department of Labor and Investigator David Buske of the OAG Investigations Bureau. The Investigations Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Dominick Zarrella and Deputy Bureau Chief Antoine Karam.