HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Office of State Inspector General has charged 178 people with welfare fraud charges between January 1 and March 31, 2019.
The Commonwealth owed $886,055 in restitution. The defendants will be temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits from 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 Office of State Inspector General filed 90 cases of fraudulently receiving public assistance that was defined as third-degree felonies. The defendants are:
- Desiree McClendon, of Erie in Erie County, for $2,308.50 in Cash Assistance fraud and $971 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 in SNAP fraud.
- Kaycee Messmer, of New Castle in Lawrence County, for $1,220 in Cash Assistance fraud and $2,610 in SNAP fraud.
- Jamarah Smokes, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $2,226.51 in Cash Assistance fraud and $7,013 in SNAP fraud.
- Jessica Kiser, of Buchkannon, in Mercer County, for $995.40 in Cash Assistance fraud and $2,016 in SNAP fraud.
- Ileana Contreras, of Wilkes Barre in Luzerne County, for $5,467 in Cash Assistance fraud and $5,295 in SNAP fraud.
- Constance Feger, of Minersville in Lebanon County, for $6,188 in SNAP fraud.
- Bethany Pifer, of Fairview in Erie County, for $2,576 in SNAP fraud and $2,717.40 in Subsidized Day Care Fraud.
- Tiffany Palmer-Chase, of York in York County, for $7,016 in SNAP fraud.
- Melissa LaSalle, of Shamokin in Northumberland County, for $860 in SNAP fraud and $3,484.82 in Subsidized Day Care.
- Nia Frazier, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $7,611 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 Station in Montgomery County, for $6,583 in SNAP fraud.
- Alexis Sampson, of Clifton Heights in Delaware County, for $3,204 in SNAP fraud.
- Caitlin Gardner, of New Castle in Lawrence County, for $4,291 in SNAP fraud.
- Sandra Perez, of Chambersburg in Franklin County, for $27,322 in SNAP fraud and $41,708.93 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Melissa Temple, of Gettysburg in Adams County, for $3,617 in SNAP fraud.
- Tiffany Starks, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $7,106 in SNAP fraud.
- Jaclyn Richardson, of Dundalk in Maryland for $17,377 in SNAP fraud
- Emily Cecconello, of Penn in Westmoreland County, for 5,651 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 in SNAP fraud.
- Jeanette Acevedo, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $10,935 in SNAP fraud.
- Dawn Kline, of Waynesboro in Franklin County, for $20,398 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 in SNAP fraud.
- Jose Segarra, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $3,216 in SNAP fraud.
- Tiffany Johnson-Anders, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $8,787 in SNAP fraud.
- Malynda Allshouse, of Altoona in Blair County, for $690 in SNAP fraud and $4,042.20 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Marylenny Acosta, of Camp Hill in Cumberland County, for $24,000 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 in SNAP fraud and $7,984.55 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Montice Robinson, of Franklin in Venango County, for $4,097 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 in SNAP fraud.
- Francheska Auquilla, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $10,646 in SNAP fraud.
- Pascual Cancelliere, of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, for $6,969 in SNAP fraud.
- Caroline Kornyzakis of Scranton in Lackawana County, for $375 in SNAP fraud and $2,692.19 in Medical fraud.
- Brooke Adamy, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $6,041 in SNAP fraud.
- Shanta Key, of Washington in Washington County, for $3,694 in SNAP fraud.
- Lauren Hunt, of Norristown in Montgomery County, for $3,865 in SNAP fraud.
- John Fickes, of Carlisle in Cumberland County, for $ 851 in SNAP fraud and $4,874.10 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Deborah Greeley, of Brookville in Jefferson County, for $5,042 in SNAP fraud and $13,240.53 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Katy Berroa, of Hazle Township in Luzerne County, for $3,409 in SNAP fraud.
- Heather Randall, of Emigsville in York County, for $9,115 in SNAP fraud and $3,896.80 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Angel Signor, of Linden in Lycoming County, for $1,520 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 in SNAP fraud.
- Jessica Weiser, of Red Lion in York County, for $3,328 in SNAP fraud and $3,617.96 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Lyniqua Webb, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $3,916 in SNAP fraud.
- Sheena Higgins, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $4,363 in SNAP fraud.
- Jason Muhl, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $4,667 in SNAP fraud.
- Shameka Moody, of Steelton in Dauphin County, for $3,300 in SNAP fraud.
- Jerissa Coaxum, of Harrisburg in Dauphin County, for $3,168 in SNAP fraud.
- Patricia Arlott, of Belle Vernon in Westmoreland County, for $8,513 in SNAP fraud.
- Amanda Boyd, of Cranberry Township in Butler County, for $625 in SNAP fraud and $4,137.40 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Alyssa Sullivan, of Williamsport in Lycoming County, for $346 in SNAP fraud and $1,723.43 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Cynthia Plance, of Brownsville in Fayette County, for $9,160 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 in SNAP fraud.
- Jennifer Flint, of Butler in Butler County, for $3,200 in SNAP fraud.
- Jere Hyatt, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $ 3,915 in SNAP fraud.
- Tina Berrios, of York in York County, for $8,418 SNAP fraud.
- Kelisha Williams, of Norristown in Montgomery County, for $3,557 in SNAP fraud.
- Mallory Lott, of New Kensington in Westmoreland County, for $3,610 in SNAP fraud.
- Carol Witmer, of Elizabethtown in Lancaster County, for $4,968 in SNAP fraud and $10,998.90 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Carissa Farling, of York in York County, for $6,329 in SNAP fraud and $7,947.57 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Andre Sell, of Hazle Township in Luzerne County, for $394 in SNAP fraud and $3,751.69 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Tiffany Brooks, of Sharon Hill in Delaware County, for $1,098 in SNAP fraud and $3198.47 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Michael Riggens, of Sharon in Mercer County, for $711 in SNAP fraud and $2,572.74 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Maria Rock, of Lyndora in Butler County, for $2,850 in SNAP fraud and $4,618.16 in Medical Assistance fraud.
- Ameena Collier, of Clifton Heights in Delaware County, for $3,147 in SNAP fraud.
- Sterling Randolph, of Royersford in Montgomery County, for $4,373 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 they are convicted, they could serve seven years in prison, have to pay a $15,000 fine, and there would be a mandatory disqualification period from receiving benefits from the programs they allegedly defrauded.