The
Mesa County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) Fraud and Recovery Unit recently
sent a suspected fraud case to the Mesa County District Attorney’s office
totaling over $$45,970.12. The suspected fraud
occurred between August 1, 2008 to October 31,
2013. Welfare
Fraud investigators uncovered enough evidence to allege the following:
Food Assistance:
$34,261.00
Medicaid
$ 8,710.16
LEAP
$
2,438.44
Admin
Costs $ 560.52
Additionally,
this case had School Lunch fraud associated with it. The USDA Food and
Nutrition Services/ National School Lunch Program is the victim on that portion
with is $831.26
The
total recovery for the investigation is 46,801.38 (all victims)
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 lifetime
ban from receiving public assistance benefits and/or criminal prosecution.
“Knowingly
providing false information on a public assistance application in order to
receive benefits is a crime and it is something we take very seriously,” said
Tracey Garchar, Executive Director for the Mesa County Department of Human
Services. “These benefits are in place
for people who are eligible and genuinely need them in order to help provide
basic needs for their family,” added Garchar.
If you or someone you know suspects welfare
fraud, please call the Mesa County Department of Human Services Welfare Fraud
Hotline at 256-2421.