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March 31, 2014

Worcester business accused of not making unemployment payments

A Worcester business was indicted for allegedly failing to pay more than $805,000 into the commonwealth’s unemployment trust fund, the Attorney General’s office announced Monday.

A Suffolk County Grand Jury indicted Worcester-based Francis Harvey and Sons, a general contracting company, as well as its president and treasurer - John Harvey, 58, of Holden - on six counts of non-payment of employer contributions.

Authorities claim Harvey failed to pay the required unemployment tax to the Department of Unemployment Assistance between April 2011 and October 2012 despite continuing to pay his employees and file company tax reports.

"I am not guilty and I intend to put up a vigorous defense to those charges," Harvey said during a telephone conversation Monday.

No date has been set for Harvey’s arraignment, according to the Attorney General’s office.

“Qualifying employers are required to pay contributions to the unemployment compensation,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a statement. “Through enforcement, we aim to level the playing field for those businesses that already follow the law and ensure that benefits are available for eligible workers.”

Massachusetts employers are required to pay quarterly contributions into a trust fund that provides temporary assistance to unemployed workers.     

Updated at 12:55 p.m. with comments from Harvey

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