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Bangor, Maine – Rella Austin-Kimball, 51, of Woodville, has been sentenced to three years of probation for her involvement in a yearslong fraud scheme that involved Social Security fraud, health care fraud, and theft of public money. She pleaded guilty to the charges on May 26, 2023.

Key Points

• The fraud, spanning January 2005 to March 2021, involved Austin-Kimball falsely claiming her husband was not in her household to illegitimately receive SSI, MaineCare, and SNAP benefits, including for a then-minor child.
• She also concealed her husband’s presence from DHHS between January 2005 and July 2017 to receive MaineCare and SNAP benefits.
• During multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Austin-Kimball falsely claimed she and her husband had separated in January 2005 and lived separately since then.
• Post-divorce, she failed to disclose receipt of alimony payments during eligibility reviews.
• She was aware that these misrepresentations would affect her eligibility to receive benefits for herself and her child.
• In addition to her probation, she has also been ordered to pay $103,596.91 in restitution. The ordered restitution includes $78,858.25 to the Social Security Administration, $4,550.66 to MaineCare, and $20,188 to SNAP, managed by Maine DHHS.