Former Rome councilman pleads guilty to stealing more than $19K in unemployment benefits

ROME, N.Y. — A former Rome city councilman has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $19,000 in unemployment-insurance benefits over an 11-month period.

Louis DiMarco, Jr. on Wednesday pleaded guilty to one count of petit larceny during an appearance in Rome City Court, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a news release.

DiMarco admitted that he falsely indicated to the New York State Department of Labor that he was “not employed in any capacity” every week from Oct. 9, 2011 through Sept. 9, 2012.

But DiMarco “was, in fact,” employed as a Rome city councilman during that period.

DiMarco further admitted that based on these false certifications, he received $19,035 in unemployment-insurance benefits that “he was not entitled to.”

With the guilty plea, DiMarco paid full restitution in court Wednesday in the amount of $19,035 to the New York State Department of Labor.

DiMarco, a Democrat, also resigned from his position last week as a councilman for the City of Rome as part of the plea agreement.

Judge Gregory Amoroso sentenced DiMarco to a one-year conditional discharge, Schneiderman’s office said.

“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 in the news release. “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.”

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

PHOTO: Louis DiMarco Jr. (Photo provided by New York State Attorney General’s office)