PA Office of Inspector General Announces June Welfare Fraud Adjudications

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eighteen Pennsylvania residents pleaded guilty to welfare fraud and/or were sentenced for their crimes during June, the Office of Inspector General announced today.

"These 18 individuals have been ordered to pay a total of more than $70,000 in restitution," Inspector General Kenya Mann Faulkner said. "An important part of our office's mission is to help recover these ill-gotten funds so that scarce public resources remain available to those who truly deserve them."

The following individuals were prosecuted and sentenced for fraudulently receiving public assistance benefits:

• Robert A. Banks, 30, and Carrie R. Martin, 21, both of Emporium, Cameron County, received more than $2,750 in cash assistance. Both were sentenced to two years probation and were ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• April L. Hall, 42, of Carlisle, Cumberland County, formerly of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, received more than $2,300 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Hall was sentenced to 24 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Debbie L. Hawryliak, 35, of Butler, Butler County, received more than $250 in SNAP benefits.  Hawryliak was sentenced to 25 hours community service and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Rebecca J. Hummel, 33, of McVeytown, Mifflin County, received more than $850 in SNAP benefits. Hummel was sentenced to eight months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Shauntay D. Lampley, 34, of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, received more than $9,950 in SNAP benefits. Lampley was sentenced to six months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Terrell Pearson, 41, of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, received more than $14,950 in subsidized child care. Pearson was sentenced to four years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Alan D. Oliver, 26, of Alun Bank, Bedford County, received more than $1,500 in SNAP benefits. Oliver was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay costs and to pay restitution with his codefendant.
• Zamalier Rodriguez, 24, of Allentown, Lehigh County, received more than $12,950 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits.  Rodriguez was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours community service and was ordered to pay costs and to pay restitution with his codefendant.
• Charles R. Roksandich, 48, of Aliquippa, Beaver County, received more than $1,400 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Roksandich was sentenced to two years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Robert Schock, III, 43, of Pittston, Luzerne County, received more than $1,250 in SNAP benefits. Schock was sentenced to six months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Selena Seward, 31, of Markleysburg, Fayette County, received more than $10,400 in SNAP benefits. Seward was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Amanda K. Specht, 31, and Scott E. Specht Jr., 27, both of Lewistown, Mifflin County, received more than $700 in SNAP benefits.  Both were sentenced to eight months probation and were ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Keisha Y. Tasker, 31, of Fayetteville, Franklin County, received more than $7,450 in SNAP benefits and subsidized child care. Tasker was sentenced to 60 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Kevin L. Walkington, 52, and Lenora Walkington, 48, both of Elizabethtown, Dauphin County, received more than $4,200 in SNAP benefits. Both were sentenced to 48 months probation and were ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Casie J. Woods, 26, of Ambridge, Beaver County, received more than $1,550 in SNAP benefits. Woods was sentenced to 24 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.

The Office of Inspector General's Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution is responsible for investigating welfare fraud and conducting collection activities for programs administered by, or contracted through, the Department of Public Welfare.  

Each year, the Office of Inspector General works with county assistance offices statewide to identify suspected cases of public assistance fraud and with local district attorneys to bring the cases to prosecution.  

Anyone found guilty of welfare fraud could face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, fines up to $15,000, mandatory restitution, and program disqualification.

The Office of Inspector General also relies on tips from the public. To report suspected fraud, call the Welfare Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582. Callers may remain anonymous.

For more information about Pennsylvania's Office of Inspector General, visit www.oig.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Richard S. Delia, 717-787-6835

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General