David Coburn Sentenced for Unemployment Fraud

Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella and Department of Employment Security Commissioner Richard J. Lavers announce that on October 13, 2026, the Rockingham County Superior Court sentenced David Coburn, age 54, upon his pleas of guilty to Unemployment Fraud and Attempted Unemployment Fraud.

Between May 2020 and May 2021, Mr. Coburn submitted false unemployment claims to the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security and falsely represented that he was furloughed due to COVID-19. During that time, his employer actually paid him over $100,000.00. As a result, Mr. Coburn's fraudulent weekly statements caused the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security to send him over $30,000.00 in unemployment benefits, which he was not entitled to.

Upon Mr. Coburn's guilty plea to attempted unemployment fraud and unemployment fraud, the Court accepted the agreement of the parties and imposed a 12-month stand committed house of corrections sentence, part of which runs concurrent to an unrelated aggravated driving under the influence charge. Mr. Coburn also has a 3 ½ to 7-year prison sentence, which is suspended for seven years. The sentence for the unemployment fraud includes restitution in the amount of $37,513.00 to the NH Department of Employment Security, $17,500.00 of which Mr. Coburn paid on the day of the plea. Other terms include a fine of $3,000.00 plus 24% penalty assessment suspended for seven years upon good behavior.

The investigation was conducted by the Department of Employment Security's Benefit Payment Control Unit and New Hampshire Department of Justice investigators. The Department of Employment Security provides unemployment benefits to eligible individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own and investigates allegations of fraud to protect New Hampshire's Unemployment Trust Fund. The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security receives program funding and grant awards from the U.S. Department of Labor. To report possible unemployment fraud, call (603) 228-4019, or email the Department of Employment Security at [email protected].