Lynn Woman Pleads Guilty to Welfare Fraud.
On April 2, 2024, a Lynn woman pleaded guilty to fraudulently receiving MassHealth, TAFDC, SNAP, and EEC childcare benefits in Essex Superior Court. The woman pleaded guilty to one count of larceny, one count of making false statements for medical assistance, and six counts of public assistance fraud. Over approximately 12 years, the woman allegedly stole $30,246.86 in TAFDC benefits, $38,967.14 in MassHealth benefits, $42,887.36 in SNAP benefits, and $80,832.44 in EEC childcare benefits ($192,933.80 in total) by falsely claiming she lived alone when, in fact, she was living with her husband, who was also the father of her children. It is alleged that she falsely informed EEC about her household composition after applying for benefits in 2000 and that she did the same with DTA and MassHealth. Had she disclosed she was living with her children’s father and receiving additional earned income, she would not have been eligible for these benefits. After pleading guilty to all counts, by agreement, the woman was sentenced to two years in the House of Corrections and three years of probation on just one count, the larceny. Restitution was not ordered because of her financial circumstances and all fees were waived.
Chelsea Man Admits to Welfare Fraud.
On September 22, 2023, a Chelsea man admitted to fraudulently receiving TAFDC and SNAP benefits in Boston Municipal Court. The man admitted to sufficient facts on one count of larceny and eight counts of public assistance fraud. The man allegedly collected $15,646 in SNAP benefits and $8,946.09 in TAFDC benefits between December 2009 and November 2016 by failing to truthfully report he was receiving benefits under two different Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses. By agreement, and following his admission, the matter was continued without a finding, and no restitution was ordered.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Welfare Fraud Scheme that Touched 14 States.
On October 31, 2023, an Ohio man was sentenced in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Dayton, Ohio, for conspiring to illegally prepare and submit false SNAP benefit applications to various states’ social welfare agencies. From June 2011 through approximately April 2022, the man, and other individuals, submitted false SNAP benefit applications to social welfare agencies in Ohio, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina, and California. Most of these applications contained false, fraudulent, and/or stolen personal identification information of third parties.
In July 2021, participating agencies from the Southern District of Ohio Financial Crimes Task Force began investigating the man after the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG) in Cincinnati, Ohio, was contacted by the USDA-OIG in Portland, Oregon, concerning a SNAP EBT fraud case they were working in conjunction with officials from the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). Their investigation identified the prime suspect in the fraud case as an Ohio resident linked to numerous fraudulent SNAP benefit applications submitted to both Oregon and Washington State DHS over several years.
The man was arrested on April 12, 2022, following the execution of search warrants at a business, three residences, and a 2010 Mercedes-Benz S550. On June 30, 2022, he and three others were formally charged in a multi-count indictment through a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Ohio. His indictment included 23 criminal counts, including SNAP fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud, theft of US government property, access device fraud, supplemental security income fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He was convicted on five counts: felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy, wire fraud, theft of government property, Social Security fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) of incarceration, five years of supervised release, restitution of $707,992, and was ordered to forfeit his Mercedes-Benz automobile.
BSI Participation in Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force Continues.
BSI Participation in Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force Continues.
BSI received 21 referrals in FY24 as an active member of the US Attorney’s Public Assistance Fraud Task Force. BSI also continued to serve on the Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), which comprises various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
DBFTF’s “Double Trouble” investigation continued to identify suspects who allegedly obtained stolen identities of US citizens and then used those identities to obtain documents and public benefits that they would not otherwise be eligible to receive. Most frequently, these benefits included Registry of Motor Vehicles identity documents, Social Security numbers, Medicaid, unemployment compensation, and public housing subsidies.
During FY24, BSI completed 20 task force investigations and identified fraud in 17 cases, totaling $581,064. BSI’s assistance during these investigations included making information requests, conducting interviews and other investigatory fieldwork, submitting overpayment calculation requests, and testifying in the grand jury or court when needed.
While the bulk of the cases BSI investigates are referred from state agencies and law enforcement, the general public also plays a vital role in reporting fraud. The State's Auditor's Office has an online form to report public assistance fraud: https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-public-benefit-fraud-online. Citizens can also use BSI's fraud reporting hotline: 617-727-6771. All complaints are kept confidential.
| Date published: | January 30, 2025 |
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