Mesa County, Co. — The Mesa County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) Fraud and Recovery Unit recently sent a case of suspected fraud to the Mesa County District Attorney’s office totaling over $34,000.00. The subject Leilani Mae Bouchard was arraigned in court this morning on Mesa County case 2018CR252. The suspected fraud occurred from December 2011 to October 2016. Mesa County Welfare Fraud Investigators uncovered enough evidence to allege the following:
Food Assistance: $27,313.00
Medicaid: $ 3,566.63
LEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program): $997.84
Investigation Costs: $ 2,380.00
The total recovery for the combination of the investigations is $34,257.47
Intentionally defrauding public assistance programs consists of falsely reporting information on an application including household composition, household resources or household income. Punishment includes: repayment of benefits issued and may result in a 1-year to a lifetime ban from receiving public assistance benefits and/or criminal prosecution.
“Our Fraud and Recovery team takes investigating false information on public assistance applications very seriously,” said Tracey Garchar, Executive Director for the Mesa County Department of Human Services. “Ensuring benefits go to families who are truly eligible and in need is our utmost priority” added Garchar.
If you or someone you know suspects welfare fraud, please call the Mesa County Department of Human Services Welfare Fraud Hotline at (970) 256-2421.
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