Hingham Woman Arraigned for PCA Fraud
On May 8, 2018, a Hingham resident was arraigned in Hingham District Court on three counts of Larceny Over $250 by Single Scheme, in violation of Section 30(1) of Chapter 266 of the Massachusetts General Laws; one count of Public Assistance Fraud, in violation of Section 5B of Chapter 18 of the General Laws; and one count of Making a False Statement to the Division of Medical Assistance, in violation of Section 39 of Chapter 118E of the General Laws. BSI’s investigation alleges that the defendant, acting as health surrogate for her daughter, used a stolen identity to falsify time sheets for personal care attendant (PCA) services for her daughter and to defraud the Commonwealth of $135,014.77.
Holyoke Resident Charged with SNAP and TAFDC Fraud
On May 9, 2018, a bench warrant was issued to a Holyoke man who failed to appear for his arraignment in Holyoke District Court. BSI filed a criminal complaint for two counts of Larceny Over $250 by Single Scheme, in violation of Section 30(1) of Chapter 266 of the General Laws, and one count of Public Assistance Fraud, in violation of Section 5B of Chapter 18 of the General Laws, against the man for allegedly intentionally concealing his spouse’s income from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), which rendered him falsely eligible for approximately $45,000 in benefits paid to him.
Boston Woman Sentenced to Eight Months for DTA Fraud
On May 16, 2018, a Boston woman pled guilty in Boston Municipal Court to one count of Larceny Over $250, in violation of Section 30(1) of Chapter 266 of the General Laws, and two counts of Public Assistance Fraud, in violation of Section 5B of Chapter 18 of the General Laws. In court, the defendant 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.
Woman Charged with Identity Fraud and Theft of Public Money
On May 17, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted a woman in United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, on one count of False Representation of a Social Security Number, in violation of Section 408(a)(7)(B) of Chapter 42 of the United States Code (USC); five counts of Theft of Public Money, in violation of 18 USC 641; and one count of Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of 18 USC 1028A(a)(1).
The defendant allegedly used a stolen identity to fraudulently receive public benefits, including over $9,000 in MassHealth benefits to which she was not entitled.
Task Force Leads to Indictment for Identity Theft and Theft of Public Money
On May 24, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted a Dominican national in United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, on one count each of Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation 18 USC 1028(A)(a)(1); Identity Theft, in violation of 18 USC 1028(a)(4) and 1028(b)(1)(D); Theft of Public Money, in violation of 18 USC 641; and Unlawful Reentry, in violation of 8 USC 1326(a). The defendant, who had been previously deported following a conviction for drug offenses, allegedly used the Social Security number of a US citizen from Puerto Rico in order to receive unemployment insurance and in so doing stole approximately $9,000 in MassHealth benefits.
The indictment was the result of a joint investigation between BSI, the US Attorney’s Office, the US Department of Homeland Security, and the US Department of Labor.
Tewksbury Woman Arraigned for PCA Fraud
On June 6, 2018, a Tewksbury resident was arraigned in Lowell District Court on one count of Larceny Over $250 by Single Scheme, in violation of Section 30(1) of Chapter 266 of the General Laws, and one count of Making a False Statement to the Division of Medical Assistance, in violation of Section 39 of Chapter 118E of the General Laws. The defendant allegedly knowingly submitted time sheets for a deceased PCA consumer, by which she received $12,768 in fraudulent payments.
Boston Resident Charged with EEC Fraud
On June 14, 2018, BSI filed charges in Boston Municipal Court, alleging that a Boston woman intentionally withheld from the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) that her employed spouse resided in the benefit household. During the two-year period of alleged fraud, the defendant collected $22,042.61 in child care vouchers.
Worcester Resident Arraigned for EEC, SNAP, and TADFC Fraud
On June 22, 2018, a Worcester woman was arraigned in Worcester District Court on three counts of Larceny Over $250 by Single Scheme, in violation of Section 30(1) of Chapter 266 of the General Laws, and one count of Public Assistance Fraud, in violation of Section 5B of Chapter 18 of the General Laws. BSI alleges that the defendant fraudulently collected $241,156.77 in public benefits between 2010 and 2017, for which she would have otherwise been ineligible, by failing to report the non-custodial parent living in her household and his income.
| Date published: | October 16, 2018 |
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