Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General Announces Welfare Fraud Adjudications

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twenty Pennsylvania residents recently were found guilty, pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to welfare fraud, and were sentenced for their crimes, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced today.

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

• Doryjean Beniquez, 38, of Reading, Berks County, received more than $7,900 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.  Beniquez pleaded guilty, was sentenced to three years probation, 80 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution, court costs, fees, and fines.  She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Jose Bracero, 54, of Bath, Northampton County, received more than $950 in SNAP benefits.  Bracero pleaded guilty, was sentenced to one year probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 24 months.  This is Bracero's second disqualification for fraudulently receiving SNAP benefits.  In 2000, he was disqualified for a period of six months in North Carolina.  A third conviction would result in Bracero being permanently disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits.  
• Shelarise L. Bray, 44, of McKeesport, Allegheny County, received more than $3,800 in SNAP benefits.  Bray pleaded guilty, was sentenced to two years probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Careema L. Cogdell, 30, of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, received more than $1,300 in cash assistance benefits.  Cogdell pleaded nolo contendere, was sentenced to one year probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  She was disqualified from receiving cash assistance benefits for a period of six months.
• Karen L. Dawson, 41, of Reading, Berks County, received more than $8,900 in SNAP benefits.  Dawson pleaded guilty, was sentenced to two years probation, 80 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution, court costs, fees, and fines.  She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Cindy Estrada-Chavez, 26, of Lebanon, Lebanon County, received more than $16,500 in SNAP benefits.  Estrada-Chavez pleaded guilty, was sentenced by Judge Charles T. Jones, Jr., to two years minus one day probation, one year house arrest with electronic monitoring, and was ordered to pay restitution, court costs, fees, and fines.  She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Danielle N. Gonzales, 39, of Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, received more than $4,100 in SNAP benefits.  Gonzales pleaded guilty, was sentenced to five years probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, fees, and fines.  She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Matthew Harris, 47, of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, received more than $3,800 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits.  Harris was found guilty, was sentenced to one year probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  He was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months, and SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Tammy Jess, 40, of York, York County, received more than $2,700 in SNAP benefits.  Jess pleaded guilty, was sentenced to three years probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Tasha Jordan, 34, of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, received more than $11,100 in cash assistance benefits.  Jordan pleaded guilty, was sentenced by Judge Ann Butchart to five years probation, and was ordered to pay restitution, court costs, and fees.  She was disqualified from receiving cash assistance benefits for a period of six months.
• William Morales, 26, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $2,950 in SNAP benefits.  Morales pleaded guilty, was sentenced to three years probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, fees, and fines.  He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Matthew Noone, 40, of Easton, Northampton County, received more than $3,850 in SNAP benefits.  Noone pleaded guilty, was sentenced to one year probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Charles Shriver, 43, of Homestead, Allegheny County, received more than $1,850 in SNAP benefits.  Shriver pleaded guilty, was sentenced to one year probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Ja'nea V. Stroud, 25, of Chester, Delaware County, received more than $2,050 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits.  Stroud pleaded guilty, was sentenced to one year probation, 40 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  She was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months, and SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Stephen E. Swarm, 47, and his spouse Diane E. Swarm, 49, both of Columbus, Warren County, received more than $1,650 in SNAP benefits.  They pleaded guilty, were both sentenced to two years probation, and were ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  They were disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Raymond Thomas, 56, of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, received more than $2,750 in SNAP benefits.  Thomas pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 18 months probation, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 24 months.  This is Thomas' second disqualification for fraudulently receiving SNAP benefits.  In 1993, he was disqualified for a period of six months.  A third conviction would result in Thomas being permanently disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits.
• Shanika Wallace-Bey, 25, of Williamsport, Lycoming County, received more than $1,000 in SNAP benefits.  Wallace-Bey pleaded guilty, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Jennymae J. Welsh, 39, of Loysville, Perry County, received more than $2,050 in SNAP benefits.  Welsh pleaded guilty, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, and fees.  She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.
• Dustin Yost, 30, of Greencastle, Franklin County, received more than $950 in SNAP benefits.  Yost pleaded guilty, and was ordered to pay full restitution, court costs, fees, and fines.  He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 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 Human Services (DHS). 

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

Those 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, or 1-844-DHS-TIPS. 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

Related Links

http://www.oig.state.pa.us