Springfield Woman Pleads Guilty to EEC and SNAP Fraud
On December 29, 2017, BSI filed charges in Springfield District Court, alleging that a Springfield woman intentionally withheld from the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that the father of her children, who was employed, resided in the benefit household. During the four-year period of alleged fraud, the defendant collected $47,886.33 in child care vouchers and $8,900 in SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps). On July 13, 2018, the Springfield woman pled guilty to larceny over $250 and public assistance fraud. She was subsequently sentenced to probation until 2023 with full restitution of $59,000.
Malden Woman Sentenced for Theft of Government Benefits
On January 3, 2018, US District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV sentenced a Malden woman to one month in prison; two years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served in home confinement; and restitution to be split among the Social Security Administration, MassHealth ($31,688.91), and the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) ($47,745.84). BSI’s investigation uncovered that the subject collected over $166,487 in Supplemental Security Income, SNAP, and MassHealth benefits by providing false information about her family.
The woman had owned and lived in a Malden home with her children and their father since at least 2003, during which time she collected needs-based government benefits. The subject failed to disclose that the father of her children lived in the home and failed to report his income, which resulted in the fraudulent payments of government benefits that she would not have been eligible for had she truthfully disclosed her household composition and income.
Clinton Resident Charged with SNAP Fraud
On March 1, 2018, BSI filed charges in Clinton District Court, alleging that a Clinton woman intentionally withheld from DTA her marriage to a new spouse and his income, and that her three dependents did not reside with her and her husband. The defendant collected $18,373 in SNAP benefits during the nearly two-year period of alleged fraud. On October 11, 2018, the Clinton woman admitted that there were sufficient facts to find her guilty and was sentenced to probation until 2020 with restitution.
Framingham Woman Settles Case Involving Multiple Programs and Agrees to Repay $113,633
A Framingham resident fraudulently collected $63,246 in EEC benefits between November 26, 2011 and December 31, 2016. She also collected $19,997 in SNAP benefits and $30,390.18 in MassHealth benefits beginning in 2010 through December 31, 2016 by providing false and misleading information concerning her total household income. The subject received thousands of dollars in public assistance benefits by intentionally underreporting her earned income.
On April 10, 2018, she settled the matter civilly and agreed to repay $113,633, with an initial payment of $35,000 provided that same day, a second payment of $28,246 due in February 2019, and $840 in monthly payments beginning June 1, 2018 until the balance is paid.
Boston Resident Sentenced for SNAP and TADFC Fraud
On May 16, 2018, a Boston woman was sentenced in Boston Municipal Court to eight months incarceration for one count of larceny over $250, in violation of Section 30(1) of Chapter 266 of the Massachusetts General Laws, and two counts of public assistance fraud, in violation of Section 5B of Chapter 18 of the General Laws. The defendant, who admitted that she fraudulently collected SNAP and Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) benefits from July 2014 to December 2015 by concealing her income from DTA, received $7,208.30 in SNAP and TAFDC benefits.
| Date published: | March 14, 2019 |
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