Office of Inspector General Announces February 2013 Welfare Fraud Adjudications

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seventeen Pennsylvania residents pleaded guilty to welfare fraud and/or were sentenced for their crimes during February, the Office of Inspector General announced today.

"The Office of Inspector General has a commitment to the public's well-being,"  Inspector General Kenya Mann Faulkner said. "Allowing public funds to be stolen would be a breech of that commitment.''

"The Office of Inspector General has agents in every single county working hard to ensure that benefits go to those who deserve them," Mann Faulkner added.

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

• Peggy Aguirre, 41, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $1,000 in cash assistance benefits. Aguirre was ordered to pay full restitution, costs and fines. She was also disqualified from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months.
• Elizabeth L. Caralyus, 41, of New Cumberland, Cumberland County, received more than $3,500 in cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Caralyus was sentenced to 24 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. Additionally, Caralyus was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months and from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months. 
• Loretta M. Dimeler, 68, of Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, received more than $1,200 in SNAP benefits. Dimeler was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. She was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months. 
• Tammy Duncan, 40, of Carlisle, Cumberland County, received more than $650 in SNAP benefits. Duncan was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.  She was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months. 
• Kathryn M. Harris, 42, of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, received more than $900 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Harris was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. Additionally, Harris was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 24 months and from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months.
• Michael M. Henderson, 56, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $1,350 in SNAP benefits. Henderson was ordered to pay full restitution, costs and fines. He was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months. 
• Timothy J. Kerstetter, 35, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $2,700 in SNAP benefits. Kerstetter was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. He was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Robert E. Kieta, 30, of Reading, Berks County, received more than $1,200 in SNAP benefits. Kieta was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. He was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months. 
• Janine E. Marker, 29, of Reading, Berks County, received more than $5,100 in cash assistance benefits. Marker was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. She was also disqualified from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months.  
• Ericka I. McNemar, 33, of Campbelltown, Lebanon County, received more than $600 in SNAP benefits. McNemar was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. She was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Noelia Padilla, 47, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $1,550 in SNAP benefits. Padilla was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. She was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months. 
• Josefina Pena, 41, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $1,000 in SNAP benefits. Pena was ordered to pay full restitution, costs and fines. She was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Cynthia A. Reeser, 47, of Reading, Berks County, received more than $1,450 in SNAP benefits. Reeser was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay full restitution. She was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months. 
• Betty J. Ross, 40, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $1,700 in SNAP benefits. Ross was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. She was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months. 
• Angelleeki L. Swiggett, 31, of Chester, Delaware County, received more than $1,550 in SNAP benefits. Swiggett was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs and fines. She was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Randi J. Valentine, 26, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $1,800 in SNAP benefits. Valentine was ordered to pay full restitution and costs. She was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months. 
• Natasha L. Willis, 30, of Reading, Berks County, received more than $9,750 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits.  Willis was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution.  Additionally, Willis was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months and from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months.

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. 

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 concerned citizens. To report suspected fraud, call the Welfare Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582. Callers may remain anonymous.

Visit the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General online at www.oig.state.pa.us.

Media contact: James H. Timko, 717-787-6835

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General