Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General Announces September 2013 Welfare Fraud Adjudications

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Office of Inspector General announced today that 27 Pennsylvania residents pleaded guilty to welfare fraud and/or were sentenced for their crimes during September.

"Assistance is available for those who qualify for benefits,'' Inspector General Michael A. Sprow said. "Unfortunately there are those individuals who cheat the welfare system and take away funds from Pennsylvanians in need.''

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

• Niguel L. Barrett, 40, of Carlisle, Cumberland County, received more than $3,400 in cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Barrett was ordered to pay restitution, costs and fines. He was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months, and SNAP benefits for one year.
• Jamal Buckery, 48, of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, received more than $6,000 in cash assistance, SNAP, and medical assistance benefits. Buckery was sentenced to two years probation and was ordered to pay restitution and fines. He was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months, and SNAP benefits for one year.
• Ricky D. Bussard, 49, of New Enterprise, Bedford County, received more than $2,100 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Bussard was sentenced to nine months probation and was ordered to pay restitution, costs and fines. He was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months, and SNAP benefits for one year.
• James T. Davis, 53, of McKeesport, Allegheny County, received more than $1,900 in SNAP benefits. Davis was ordered to pay full restitution. He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Joshua N. Dawber, 31, of Manheim, Lancaster County, received more than $2,000 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Dawber was ordered to pay full restitution. He was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months and SNAP benefits for one year.
• Carl K. Drayton, 38, of New Castle, Lawrence County, received more than $600 in SNAP benefits. Drayton was ordered to pay restitution and costs. He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Shawn D. Dutcher, 34, of Levittown, Bucks County, received more than $1,500 in cash assistance. Dutcher pled nolo contendere and was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay restitution and costs. He was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for six months.
• Brandy J. Esch, 33, of Ephrata, Lancaster County, received more than $10,000 in SNAP benefits. Esch was sentenced to four years probation and was ordered to pay restitution. She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Edward Kauffman, 41, of Quarryville, Lancaster County, received more than $3,000 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Kauffman was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay restitution. He was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for six months and SNAP benefits for one year.
• Crystal L. Kittle, 32, of Lewistown, Mifflin County, received more than $3,000 in SNAP benefits. Kittle was sentenced to nine months probation and was ordered to pay restitution. She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• John H. Louser, 41, of Shinglehouse, Potter County, received more than $3,400 in medical assistance benefits. Louser was sentenced to four months jail time, three months house arrest, 10 months parole, and 25 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay restitution.
• Jessica A. Lucarelli, 29, of Butler, Butler County, received more than $500 in cash assistance benefits. Lucarelli was sentenced to one year probation and 25 hours of community service. Lucarelli was ordered to pay restitution, costs and fines. She was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for a period of six months.
• Jaelle M. Ndamage, 23, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $1,000 in cash assistance benefits. Ndamage was ordered to pay restitution. She was disqualified from receiving cash assistance benefits for a period of six months.
• Olivia M. Parmenter, 23, of Erie, Erie County received more than $8,800 in subsidized day care assistance. Parmenter was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay restitution. She was disqualified from receiving subsidized day care assistance for six months.
• Edward Polcheck, 37, of Kelayres, Schuylkill County, received more than $1,600 in SNAP benefits. Polcheck was sentenced to 18 months probation and was ordered to pay restitution, costs and fines. He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Mary Porter, 53, of Farrell, Mercer County, received more than $14,500 in SNAP Benefits. Porter was ordered to pay restitution.
• Alicia Rapp, 39, of Rochester, Beaver County, received more than $24,000 in SNAP benefits. Rapp was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay restitution. She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Catherine A. Ritter, 55, of Lewistown, Mifflin County, received more than $3,700 in SNAP benefits. Ritter was sentenced to four days to one year in jail and was ordered to pay restitution and costs. She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Kelli L. Rosser, 48, of Clairton, Allegheny County, received more than $1,700 in SNAP benefits. Rosser was ordered to pay restitution. She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Damian Schiavo, 35, of Washington, Washington County, received more than $1,400 in cash assistance and SNAP Benefits. Schiavo was ordered to pay restitution. He was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for six months and SNAP benefits for one year.
• Cathy J. Shoff, 52, of York, York County, received more than $3,000 in SNAP benefits. Shoff was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution, costs and fines. Shoff was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Brent M. Taylor, 34, of Williamsport, Lycoming County, received more than $1,300 in SNAP benefits. Taylor was sentenced to six months probation and was ordered to pay restitution and costs. He was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Rosemary Timmons, 43, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $1,700 in SNAP benefits. Timmons was ordered to pay restitution. She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• Joanna R. Wagner, 26, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, received more than $1,700 in SNAP benefits. Wagner was ordered to pay restitution and costs. She was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.
• John C. Walton, 26, of Lititz, Lancaster County, received more than $2,800 in cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Walton was ordered to pay restitution.  He was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for six months and SNAP benefits for one year.
• Chaz D. Warner, 22, of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, received more than $1,000 in cash assistance. He was disqualified from receiving cash benefits for six months.
• Jennifer Wheeler, 41, of Darby, Delaware County, received more than $3,200 in cash assistance. Wheeler was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to pay restitution and to perform 56 hours of community service. She was disqualified from receiving cash assistance for six months.

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 (DPW). 

The Office of Inspector General works with DPW's county assistance offices statewide to identify suspected cases of public assistance fraud and with local district attorneys to bring the cases to prosecution. 

Those 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 concerned citizens. To report suspected fraud, call the Welfare Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582. Callers may remain anonymous.

Visit the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General online at www.oig.state.pa.us.

Media contact: James H. Timko, 717-787-6835

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General