Franklin Woman Among 178 Charged With Welfare Fraud

| May 14, 2019

investigationHARRISBURG, Pa. – The Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) filed welfare fraud charges against 178 individuals between January 1 and March 31 of 2019.

The restitution owed the Commonwealth in these cases totals $886,055.54.  Additional cost savings will be realized as the defendants will be temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits in the programs they allegedly defrauded.

“Our Office remains vigilant to protect the integrity of our vital public assistance programs,” said State Inspector General Bruce R. Beemer. “We are proud to work with our partners in law enforcement across the Commonwealth to help those in need and stop those who cheat.”

The OSIG filed ninety (90) cases of fraudulently receiving public assistance that were graded as felonies of the third degree. The defendants are:

• Desiree McClendon, of Erie in Erie County, for $2,308.50 in Cash Assistance fraud and $971.00 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamp) fraud.
• Megan Kazmierczak, of Edinboro in Erie County, for $3,405.88 in Cash Assistance fraud and $1,702.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Kaycee Messmer, of New Castle in Lawrence County, for $1,220.00 in Cash Assistance fraud and $2,610.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jamarah Smokes, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $2,226.51 in Cash Assistance fraud and $7,013.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jessica Kiser, of Buchkannon, in Mercer County, for $995.40 in Cash Assistance fraud and 2,016.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Ileana Contreras, of Wilkes Barre in Luzerne County, for $5,467.00 in Cash Assistance fraud and $5,295.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Constance Feger, of Minersville in Lebanon County, for $6,188.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Bethany Pifer, of Fairview in Erie County, for $2,576.00 in SNAP fraud and $2,717.40 in Subsidized Day Care Fraud.
• Tiffany Palmer-Chase, of York in York County, for $7,016.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Melissa LaSalle, of Shamokin in Northumberland County, for $860.00 in SNAP fraud and $3,484.82 in Subsidized Day Care.
• Nia Frazier, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $7,611.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Bridgette Crue, of Salisbury in Blair County, for $11,415.74 in SNAP fraud and $5,143.11 in Medical Assistance Fraud
• Khalia Jones, of Merion Statiion in Montgomery County, for $6,583.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Alexis Sampson, of Clifton Heights in Delaware County, for $3,204.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Caitlin Gardner, of New Castle in Lawrence County, for $4,291.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Sandra Perez, of Chambersburg in Franklin County, for $27,322.00 in SNAP fraud and $41,708.93 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Melissa Temple, of Gettysburg in Adams County, for $3,617.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Tiffany Starks, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $7,106.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jaclyn Richardson, of Dundalk in Maryland for $17,377.00 in SNAP fraud
• Emily Cecconello, of Penn in Westmoreland County, for 5,651.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Amy Noel, of Altoona in Blair County, for $8,052.82 in SNAP fraud.
• Kelly Brewbaker, of Hershey in Dauphin County, for $5,335.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jeanette Acevedo, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $10,935.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Dawn Kline, of Waynesboro in Franklin County, for $20,398.00 in SNAP fraud and $27,426.80 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Jamal Barker, of Harrisburg in Dauphin County, for $ 19,081.29 in SNAP fraud.
• Carla Lucero, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $6,002.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jose Segarra, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $3,216.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Tiffany Johnson-Anders, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $8,787.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Malynda Allshouse, of Altoona in Blair County, for $690.00 in SNAP fraud and $4,042.20 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Marylenny Acosta, of Camp Hill in Cumberland County, for $24,000.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Ramona Acosta, of Camp Hill in Cumberland County, for $$1,672.81 in SNAP fraud.
• Larry Boone, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $ 15,330.00 in SNAP fraud and $7,984.55 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Montice Robinson, of Franklin in Venango County, for $4,097.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Pamela Iman, of Renfrew in Butler County, for $4,088.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Chimere Mobley, of Brookhaven in Delaware County, for $13,883.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Francheska Auquilla, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $10,646.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Pascual Cancelliere, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $6,969.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Caroline Kornyzakis of Scranton in Lackawana County, for $375.00 in SNAP fraud and $2,692.19 in Medical fraud.
• Brooke Adamy, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $6,041.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Shanta Key, of Washington in Washington County, for $3,694.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Lauren Hunt, of Norristown in Montgomery County, for $3,865.00 in SNAP fraud.
• John Fickes, of Carlisle in Cumberland County, for $ 851.00 in SNAP fraud and $4,874.10 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Deborah Greeley, of Brookville in Jefferson County, for $5,042.00 in SNAP fraud and $13,240.53 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Katy Berroa, of Hazle Township in Luzerne County, for $3,409.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Heather Randall, of Emigsville in York County, for $9,115.00 in SNAP fraud and $3,896.80 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Angel Signor, of Linden in Lycoming County, for $1,520.00 in SNAP fraud and $3,966.55 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Stephen McDaniel, of Harrisburg in Dauphin County, for $ 13,949.86 in SNAP fraud.
• Larry Brown, of Shoemakersville in Lancaster County, for $ 4,560.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jessica Weiser, of Red Lion in York County, for $3,328.00 in SNAP fraud and $3,617.96 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Lyniqua Webb, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $3,916.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Sheena Higgins, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $4,363.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jason Muhl, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $4,667.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Shameka Moody, of Steelton in Dauphin County, for $3,300.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jerissa Coaxum, of Harrisburg in Dauphin County, for $3,168.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Patricia Arlott, of Belle Vernon in Westmoreland County, for $8,513.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Amanda Boyd, of Cranberry Township in Butler County, for $625.00 in SNAP fraud and $4,137.40 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Alyssa Sullivan, of Williamsport in Lycoming County, for $ 346.00 in SNAP fraud and $1,723.43 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Cynthia Plance, of Brownsville in Fayette County, for $9,160.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Bradley Stackhouse, of Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County, for $1,328 in SNAP fraud and $1,972.77 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Sadia Saleem, of Woodlyn in Delaware County, for $ 3,274.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jennifer Flint, of Butler in Butler County, for $3,200.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Jere Hyatt, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $ 3,915.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Tina Berrios, of York in York County, for $8,418.00 SNAP fraud.
• Kelisha Williams, of Norristown in Montgomery County, for $3,557.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Mallory Lott, of New Kensington in Westmoreland County, for $3,610.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Carol Witmer, of Elizabethtown in Lancaster County, for $4,968.00 in SNAP fraud and $10,998.90 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Carissa Farling, of York in York County, for $6,329.00 in SNAP fraud and $7,947.57 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Andre Sell, of Hazle Township in Luzerne County, for $394.00 in SNAP fraud and $3,751.69 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Alicia Kline, of Hollidaysburg in Blair County, for $3,209.00 in SNAP fraud and $5,927.60 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Tiffany Brooks, of Sharon Hill in Delaware County, for $1,098.00 in SNAP fraud and $3198.47 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Michael Riggens, of Sharon in Mercer County, for $711.00 in SNAP fraud and $2,572.74 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Maria Rock, of Lyndora in Butler County, for $2,850.00 in SNAP fraud and $4,618.16 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Ameena Collier, of Clifton Heights in Delaware County, for $3,147.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Sterling Randolph, of Royersford in Montgomery County, for $4,373.00 in SNAP fraud.
• Rebecca Fry, of Jamestown in Mercer County, for $10,838.48 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Harlie Allison-Mille, of Perryopolis in Fayette County, for $3,773.76 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Kerry Geisel, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $5,787.92 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Danielle Ribaric, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $11,584.93 in Medical Assistance fraud.
• Humu Sesay, of Lansdowne in Delaware County, for $15,694.26 in Subsidized Day Care.
• Tisa Love, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $7,330.56 in Subsidized Day Care.
• Palakiyem Watossim, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $8,573.40 in subsidized Day Care.

If convicted, the maximum penalty they face is seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000.00, plus a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they allegedly defrauded.

In addition, the OSIG filed eighty-eight (88) misdemeanor charges of public benefits fraud.

All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

To report suspected fraud please call the Welfare Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582 or visit the OSIG website at www.osig.pa.gov. Tipsters may remain anonymous.


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