Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General Announces March Welfare Fraud Adjudications

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Inspector General Kenya Mann Faulkner today released the following recent Office of Inspector General welfare fraud case adjudications. The defendants pleaded guilty to welfare fraud and/or were sentenced for their crimes during March.

"The Office of Inspector General works to ensure public assistance funds are available to those who truly need and are eligible for them," Faulkner said. "Individuals who deliberately take advantage of these resources will be caught and punished for their crime. Part of that punishment includes being ordered to pay full restitution to the state to restore these vital funds."

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

• Rebecca L. Bass, 39, of Uniontown, Fayette County, received more than $1,200 in cash assistance. Bass was sentenced to 12 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Jennifer N. Cottrill, 36, of York, York County, received more than $4,650 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Cottrill was sentenced to two years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Tara Davis, 46, of York, York County, received more than $1,900 in SNAP benefits. Davis was sentenced to two years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Anna E. Gibson, 56, of Reading, Berks County, received more than $1,750 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Gibson was sentenced to four years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Antoinette Harris, 39, of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, received more than $2,000 in SNAP benefits. Harris was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Michael G. Luktisch, 28, of Brockway, Venango County, formerly of Titusville, Crawford County, received more than $13,700 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Luktisch was sentenced to seven to 24 months, less one day, incarceration, five years probation, and was ordered to pay costs and fines and to pay restitution with his codefendant.
• Angelic A. Madrid, 27, of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, formerly of Allentown, Lehigh County, received more than $32,650 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Madrid was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Michelle M. Manchas, 31, of Masontown, Fayette County, received more than $1,000 in SNAP benefits. Manchas was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay full restitution, costs, and fines.
• Linda Moss, 43, of Pocono Lake, Monroe County, received more than $4,300 in SNAP benefits. Moss was sentenced to two years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Juliana C. Tejera, 47, of Allentown, Lehigh County, received more than $7,400 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Tejera was sentenced to two years probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.
• Erica Walker, 33, of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, received more than $1,000 in SNAP benefits. Walker was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay full restitution and costs.

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 Public Welfare.  

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

Anyone 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 citizens. Anyone with information on suspected fraud should call the Welfare Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582.

For more information about Pennsylvania's Office of Inspector General, visit www.oig.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Amy L. Butler, 717-787-6835

SOURCE Office Of Inspector General