Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General Announces May Welfare Fraud Adjudications

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eleven Pennsylvania residents pleaded guilty to welfare fraud and/or were sentenced for their crimes during May, the Office of Inspector General announced today.

"The Office of Inspector General is committed to finding and stopping welfare fraud so that public assistance can remain available to those who are eligible," Inspector General Kenya Mann Faulkner said. "It is our mission to help protect these scarce public resources and ensure that those who break the law are held accountable."  

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

• Rhonda Brown, 52, of Aliquippa, Beaver County, received more than $7,300 in cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Brown was sentenced to 36 months Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP) and 90 days restrictive IPP and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Nayomi Caraballo, 27, of Bethlehem, Northampton County, received more than $2,050 in cash assistance. Caraballo was sentenced to 12 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Krystal M. Colon, 24, of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, received more than $1,450 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Colon was sentenced to 23 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Sheree D. Hankerson, 30, of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, received more than $4,550 in subsidized child care. Hankerson was sentenced to 24 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Markeia D. Hines, 32, of Aliquippa, Beaver County, formerly of Beaver Falls, Beaver County, received more than $1,200 in cash assistance. Hines was sentenced to 24 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Mandy Holland, 33, of Middletown, Dauphin County, formerly of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, received more than $1,450 in cash assistance. Holland was sentenced to 18 months probation, served 16 days incarceration, and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Tanicha S. Jones, 24, of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, received more than $1,050 in cash assistance. Jones was sentenced to 12 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Bryan L. Kimmel, 27, and Jackie M. Kimmel, 28, both of Elliottsburg, Perry County, received more than $1,250 in SNAP benefits. Both were sentenced to one year probation and were ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Karen L. McIntyre, 40, of Burnham, Mifflin County, received more than $2,350 in SNAP benefits. McIntyre was sentenced to 18 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Malikah Williams, 31, of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, received more than $9,950 in subsidized child care. Williams was sentenced to four years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.

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 citizens. 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: Amy L. Butler, 717-787-6835

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General

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