Hyannis Woman Pleads Guilty to Welfare Fraud
On December 5, 2024, a Hyannis woman retracted her plea and admitted to sufficient facts of guilt to fraudulently receiving TAFDC, SNAP, and EEC childcare benefits in Barnstable Superior Court. The woman admitted to sufficient facts of guilt to one count of larceny and seven counts of public assistance fraud. The woman allegedly stole $3,928 in TAFDC benefits, $29,177 in SNAP benefits, and $110,891 in EEC childcare benefits ($143,996 in total) by falsely claiming that she lived alone when, in fact, she was living with the father of her children. It is alleged that she falsely informed EEC about her household composition after applying for benefits in 2015 and that she did the same with DTA. Had she disclosed that she was living with her children’s father and receiving additional earned income, she would not have been eligible for these benefits. After changing her plea, the woman was provided a continuance without a finding and placed on probation for three and one half years. Restitution was ordered for the total amount of $143,996, but because her financial circumstances were still in flux at the hearing under Commonwealth v. Henry, 475 Mass. 117, 126, 129 (2016), the decision on whether she is financially able to repay was taken under advisement at the continued restitution hearing on September 17, 2025.
Gloucester Woman Has Case Dismissed After Admitting to Welfare Fraud
On August 22, 2024, the criminal charges against a Gloucester woman, who previously admitted to fraudulently receiving TAFDC and SNAP benefits in Boston Municipal Court, were dismissed. In April 2023, the woman admitted to sufficient facts on one count of larceny and one count of public assistance fraud after it was alleged that she collected $8,629 in SNAP benefits and $12,634 in TAFDC benefits between December 2016 and April 2019 by not accurately reporting the custody status of her dependents while collecting benefits. Following her admission to facts sufficient for a guilty finding, the matter continued without a finding, and $3,000 in restitution was ordered, to be repaid in installments of $250 per month. When the case was dismissed, the remaining restitution was remitted.
BSI Participation in Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force Continues
BSI received 20 referrals in FY25 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, 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.
The Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force’s “Double Trouble” investigation identified 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 have been eligible to receive. Most frequently, these benefits included Registry of Motor Vehicles identity documents, Social Security numbers, Medicaid benefits, unemployment compensation, and public housing subsidies.
During FY25, BSI completed 18 task force investigations and identified fraud in 2 cases, totaling $10,428. BSI’s assistance during these investigations included compiling information, 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, 2026 |
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