Rome Councilman Pleads Guilty To Stealing Unemployment Benefits

A former Rome Common Council member has pleaded guilty to receiving over $19,000 in unemployment insurance benefits he was not entitled to over an eleven-month period.

The State Attorney General's Office says Louis DiMarco, Junior admitted in court that he falsely certified to the New York State Department of Labor that he was not employed in any capacity, when he was, in fact, employed as a Rome Councilman

The AG's Office says it happened from October, 2011 through September of 2012.

“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,” Attorney General Eric 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.”

As part of his guilty plea, DiMarco was ordered to pay $19.035 in restitution to the State Department of Labor.

He also resigned last week from his position on the Rome Common Council.