103 charged with public assistance fraud in PA

EYEWITNESS (WBRE/WYOU) — The Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) stated in July and August that 103 people have been charged with public assistance fraud.

According to OSIG, 102 people have been charged with felonies for public assistance fraud.

OSIG says the restitution owed to the Commonwealth totals $680,303 and the defendants will be temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits within the programs they allegedly defrauded.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to protecting Pennsylvania`s public assistance programs, which are a lifeline for people in difficult situations. DHS works diligently to ensure the benefits we administer remain available to those who deserve them, and we are proud to partner with OSIG every day to refer suspected public assistance fraud and maintain the responsible stewardship of these essential programs,” said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh.

Allegedly, those charged trafficked their public assistance or misrepresented their household circumstances and fraudulently received taxpayer-funded public benefits they were not entitled to, OSIG continues.

102 people were charged with felonies and one was charged with a misdemeanor, officials note.

The maximum penalty for this offense is seven years in prison with a $15,000 fine and will also face a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program in which they defrauded.

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