4 locals among 45 charged with welfare fraud in December, PA Inspector General says

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — Forty-five people across the commonwealth were charged with welfare fraud in December, the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) announced Tuesday.

Authorities say the total restitution owed the state in these cases is $240,125.40 and additional cost savings will be realized as the defendants are temporarily disqualified from receiving benefits from the programs they’ve defrauded.

“Ensuring the integrity of public assistance programs is crucial in our service to the citizens of Pennsylvania,” said Acting State Inspector General Lucas M. Miller. “We hold accountable those who willfully defraud these programs while safeguarding assistance for those who are in need. We are proud to support Governor Wolf’s investment in services to vulnerable populations by providing an important program integrity role.”

The OSIG says 35 of those charged face felonies in their cases.

Four are from the 6 News coverage area:

• Dianna Snyder, of Brockway in Jefferson County, for $9,215 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Chelsea-Ray Merritt, of Hopewell in Blair County, for $5,714 in SNAP fraud and $339 for LIHEAP fraud.
• Cathy Riffle, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $2,404 in SNAP fraud.
• Ranecia Jefferson, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $2,564 in SNAP fraud.
• Nakisha Williams, of Reading in Berks County, for $21,987.78 in Medical Assistance fraud and $5,377 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamp) fraud.
• Shelby Kamarer, of New Cumberland in Cumberland County, for $18,499.67 in Medical Assistance fraud and $4,428 in SNAP fraud.
• Rebecca Evans, of Greensburg in Westmoreland County, for $9,824.03 in Medical Assistance fraud and $8,784 in SNAP fraud.
• Deborah Wittig, of Bruin in Clarion County, for $16,361 in SNAP fraud.
• Scott Davis, of Lebanon in Lebanon County, for $9,785.62 in Medical Assistance fraud and $1,947 in SNAP fraud.
• Nicole Tyler, of Penn in Westmoreland County, for $9,157 in SNAP fraud and $501 for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) fraud.
• Hannah Conway, of Irwin in Westmoreland County, for $9,282 in SNAP fraud.
• Sharina Eaddy, of Elkins Park in Montgomery County, for $7,238.78 in Medical Assistance fraud and $1,457 in SNAP fraud.
• Deborah Bier, of Conshohocken in Montgomery County, for $6,675 in SNAP fraud.
• Natasha Osorio-Gierbolini, of Ephrata in Lancaster County, for $5,057 in Cash Assistance fraud and $1,280 in SNAP fraud.
• Aliyah Foster, of Philadelphia, for $5,288.80 in Cash Assistance fraud and $1,023 in SNAP fraud.
• Elizabeth Fontanez-Rosar, of Lebanon in Lebanon County, for $5,640.25 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Tina Harris, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $4,841 in SNAP fraud.
• Colin Snyder, of Williamsport in Lycoming County, for $2,929.56 in Medical Assistance fraud and $1,056 in SNAP fraud.
• Sabrina Prokopovich, of Freeland in Luzerne County, for $3,875 in SNAP fraud.
• Jennfier Marti Forty, of Lebanon in Lebanon County, for $3,236 in SNAP fraud.
• Lissette Silva, of Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County, for $3,227 in SNAP fraud.
• Anelina Atkins, of Elkins Park in Montgomery County, for $3,030 in SNAP fraud.
• Sarah Smithson, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $3,027.17 in SNAP fraud.
• Melissa Spong, of Williamsport in Lycoming County, for $1,449 in SNAP fraud and $1,410.50 in Cash Assistance fraud.
• Damion and Sydnei Green, of New Castle in Lawrence County, for $2,715.50 in Cash Assistance fraud.
• Natasha Boyd, of Norristown in Montgomery County, for $1,950 in SNAP fraud and $762 for LIHEAP fraud.
• Tanisha Cooper, of Homestead in Allegheny County, for $$2,563 in Cash Assistance fraud.
• Mary Wiley, of Stewartstown in York County, for $2,501 in SNAP fraud.
• Abigail Martinez, of York in York County, for $2,464 in SNAP fraud.
• Michelle Waugaman, of Greensburg in Westmoreland County, for $2,102 in SNAP fraud.
• Shakera Aiken and Joshua Nieves, of Reading in Berks County, for $2,080 in SNAP fraud.
• Javon Daisey, of Reading in Berks County, for $2,036 in SNAP fraud.
• John Mollett, of Aliquippa in Beaver County, for $1,365.91 in Medical Assistance fraud and $254 in SNAP fraud.

Those accused face a maximum of seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000 and a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they defrauded, authorities say.

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