19th longshoreman convicted of payroll fraud

By Globe Staff

A longshoreman was convicted Thursday of falsifying 116 hours on his timesheet in an attorney general's probe that has netted 19 guilty verdicts and more than $311,000 in fines and restitution.

Robert Miller, 49, was convicted by a Suffolk Superior Court jury of fraud in the procurement of government services and conspiracy to commit larceny over $250. The South Boston resident is scheduled to be sentenced next Friday.

Miller was indicted in August 2006 along with 19 others defendants in a probe into payroll fraud schemes involving longshoremen who load and unload container ships at Conley Terminal, which is operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority in South Boston. Investigators determined that from 2003 to 2004 names were inserted on timesheets so some longshoremen received credit for hours actually worked by others. By increasing their hours, the men then fraudulently became entitled to benefits.

Miller was convicted of asking another longshoreman to work 116 hours under his name in April and August 2004.

Eighteen other defendants have already either pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial and sentenced. A case is pending against the one remaining defendant.

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