Restitution totals by benefits program amounted to: $311,830 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); $77,871.81 for subsidized day care; $112,595.15 for medical assistance; $24,094.19 for cash assistance; and $3,571.31 for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
“Every dollar of fraud we can prevent makes a difference,” said State Inspector General Bruce R. Beemer. “I am confident that with the new investigative and enforcement tools made available to the Office by the Governor and the General Assembly that we can save the taxpayers of the Commonwealth even more. We have been busy training and equipping our personnel to make the best use of those tools. But the business of the Office has not stopped and I am proud of the diligent and difficult work done by our investigators to ensure our public benefits are not diverted from those in need.”
The OSIG filed 52 criminal cases of fraudulently receiving public assistance in Pennsylvania that were graded as a felony of the third degree. The defendants are:
• Ramekia O. Johnson, 38, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $15,490 in SNAP fraud and $806 in cash assistance fraud.
• Tashandra M. Clark, 29, of Allentown in Lehigh County, for $2,175 in SNAP fraud and $5,231.55 in cash assistance.
• Dorice C. Byrd, 38, of Erie in Erie County, for $3,485 in SNAP fraud and $824 in LIHEAP fraud.
• Gisela Herrera, 28, of Chambersburg in Franklin County, for $3,228 in SNAP fraud and $5,647.12 in medical assistance fraud.
• Amanda J. Blacksten, 35, of East Berlin in Adams County, for $3,574 in SNAP fraud.
• Frederick S. Saylor, 40, of Reading in Berks County, for $2,716 in SNAP fraud and $5,847.55 in medical assistance fraud.
• Tyrone D. Ward, 50, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $1,456 in SNAP fraud and $5,991.49 in medical assistance fraud.
• Jose L. Rodriguez, Jr., 28, of Reading in Berks County, for $3,457 in SNAP fraud.
• Marianne McConnell, 32, of Falls Creek in Jefferson County, for $3,393 in SNAP fraud.
• LaShae K. King, 26, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $3,158 in SNAP fraud and $576 in LIHEAP fraud.
• Robert Penn, 59, of McKeesport in Allegheny County, for $4,088 in SNAP fraud.
•Ann M. Lincoln, 42, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $3,483 in SNAP fraud.
• Nicole L. Phiri, 44, of Clairton in Allegheny County, for $33,140.70 in subsidized child care benefits fraud.
• Tracy L. Chierkove, 31, of Bangor in Northampton County, for $7,115.80 in subsidized child care benefits fraud.
• Lynette M. Wynne, 36, of Lafayette Hill in Montgomery County, for $3,295.22 in SNAP fraud.
• Cory A. Nicholson, 38, of Bovard in Westmoreland County, for $35,728.26 in medical assistance fraud and $7,214 in SNAP fraud.
• Milagro Gonzalez, 35, of Lebanon in Lebanon County, for $10,087 in SNAP fraud and $15,909 in subsidized day care fraud; Frank E. Harrison, 46, of Lebanon in Lebanon County, for $8,796 of the $10,087 in SNAP fraud.
• Jackie L. Smith, 49, and Brian L. Smith, 48, of Friedens in Somerset County, for $4,052 in SNAP fraud, $15,577.32 in medical assistance fraud and $557.18 in cash assistance fraud.
• Tamika A. Butler, 40, of Philadelphia, for $12,162 in SNAP fraud.
• Kimberly A. Shesko, 45, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $11,560 in SNAP fraud.
• Kristie K. Marshall, 30, of Harrisburg in Dauphin County, for $10,426.28 in subsidized child care fraud.
• Dianamarie Ford, 59, of Butler in Butler County, for $2,387 in SNAP fraud and $7,342.16 in medical assistance fraud.
• Angela T. Motter, 37, of Dalmatia in Northumberland County, for $8,771.58 in subsidized day care fraud.
• Jeffrey Snyder, 58, of Altoona in Blair County, for $8,037.40 in medical assistance fraud.
• James G. Caldwell, 44, of Philadelphia in Chester County, for $6,799 in SNAP fraud and $783 in LIHEAP fraud.
• Brandi N. Kepple, 37, of Sarver in Armstrong County, for $6,870.39 in medical assistance fraud.
• Michael L. McCleary Jr., 38, of Columbia in Lancaster County, for $3,978 in SNAP fraud and $2,751.90 in cash assistance fraud.
• Fawn M. Herbert, 40, of Greencastle in Franklin County, for $6,706 in SNAP fraud.
• Guiliana D. Bracale, 22, of Oberlin in Dauphin County, for $5,804 in SNAP fraud.
• Nicole R. Dean, 32, of Carlisle in Cumberland County, for $3,186 in SNAP fraud and $2,508.45 in subsidized day care fraud.
• Amy C. Freeburn, 39, of Dillsburg in Adams County, for $1,864 in SNAP fraud and $3,737.11 in medical assistance fraud.
• Arielle D. Morgan, 35, of Latrobe in Westmoreland County, for $5,558 in SNAP fraud.
• Victoria Bandel, 44, of Norristown in Montgomery County, for $5,298 in SNAP fraud.
• Stephanie M. Nixson, 44, of Erie in Erie County, for $5,177 in SNAP fraud.
• Carol A. Smith, 49, of North East in Erie County, for $5,001 in SNAP fraud.
• Jennifer R. White, 38, of Martinsburg in Blair County, for $4,772.80 in medical assistance fraud.
• Donnell Casey, 36, of Cheltenham in Montgomery County, for $4,629 in SNAP fraud.
• Kinzie C. Kronenwetter, 31, and Jared K. Hall, 29, of Meadville in Crawford County, for $2,245 in SNAP fraud, $1,490.97 in cash assistance fraud and $681 in LIHEAP fraud.
• Diana L. Ferrante, 51, of New Castle in Lawrence County, for $4,189.61 in medical assistance fraud.
• Maybelline Perez, 28, of Long Pond in Monroe County, for $1,822 in SNAP fraud and $2,124.40 in cash assistance fraud.
• James H. Russell Jr., 36, of Arnold in Blair County, for $3,922.01 in medical assistance fraud.
• Stephanie L. Stoy, 41, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $3,753 in SNAP fraud.
• Rachel A. Leduc, 30, of Export in Westmoreland County, for $3,735 in SNAP fraud.
• Jacqueline A. Caruso, 36, of Stroudsburg in Monroe County, for $3,728 in SNAP fraud.
• Vincent P. Amoroso, 52, of Oxford in Chester County, for $3,712 in SNAP fraud.
• Jaquin V. Roman, 31, of Mountville in Lancaster County, for $3,487 in SNAP fraud.
• Rocio Y. Frances, 42, of Marysville in Perry County, for $3,734 in SNAP fraud.
• Dianna C. Calhoun, 40, of Milton in Northumberland County, for $3,214 in SNAP fraud.
• Keri A. Snyder, 41, of Easton in Northampton County, for $3,068 in SNAP fraud.
If convicted, the maximum penalty they face is seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000, plus a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they defrauded.
The OSIG filed 49 criminal cases of fraudulently receiving public assistance in Pennsylvania that were graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree. The defendants are:
• Tiontay A. Bey, 30, of Duquesne in Allegheny County, for $2,054 in cash assistance fraud.
• Alana M. Neil, 28, of Orrstown in Franklin County, for $1,524 in SNAP fraud and $603.29 in medical assistance fraud.
• Deanna M. Domingo Andres, 26, of Chambersburg in Franklin County, for $2,142 in SNAP fraud.
• Marjann M. Clark, 52, of Glen Richey in Clearfield County, for $1,933 in SNAP fraud and $541.31 in LIHEAP fraud.
• Emily S. Kossbiel, 45, of Erie in Erie County, for $1,668 in SNAP fraud.
• Tiffany M. Bowens, 46, of Harrisburg in Dauphin County, for $1,679 in SNAP fraud.
• Lindsay L. Grills, 27, of Slippery Rock in Butler County, for $2,388 in SNAP fraud.
• Michelle L. Rickard, 31, of King of Prussia in Montgomery County, for $2,280 in SNAP fraud.
• Govinda Khatiwada, 36, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $1,822.02 in SNAP fraud.
• Atiyyah A. Darden, 27, of Norristown in Montgomery County, for $2,232 in SNAP fraud.
• Carmen M. Geigel, 39, of Harrisburg in Dauphin County, for $2,776 in SNAP fraud.
• Nyaja D. Clowney, 24, of Chester in Delaware County, for $2,499 in SNAP fraud.
• Kristin M. Remmel, 37, of Oley in Berks County, for $1,785 in SNAP fraud.
• Toni E. Booth, 28, of Harrisburg in Dauphin County, for $2,764 in SNAP fraud.
• Nadine D. Brinson, 32, of Sharon Hill in Delaware County, for $1,660 in SNAP fraud.
• Jamie L. Worsham, 36, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $2,173 in SNAP fraud and $486 in LIHEAP fraud.
• Jennie L. Robinson, 25, of Hermine in Westmoreland County, for $2,308 in SNAP fraud.
• Abigail Torres Velez, 21, of Lebanon in Lebanon County, for $1,785 in SNAP fraud.
• Timothy S. Long, 45, of Martinsburg in Blair County, for $2,038.36 in medical assistance fraud.
• Dyqueshia S. Rockett, 26, of Erie in Erie County, for $2,757 in SNAP fraud.
• Nicole M. Mummey, 31, of Montgomery in Lycoming County, for $1,522 in SNAP fraud.
• Alyce N. Storer, 35, of Norristown in Montgomery County, for $2,920 in SNAP fraud.
• Margaret S. Wooding, 42, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $2,902 in SNAP fraud.
• Mary I. Massimino, 47, of Carnegie in Allegheny County, for $2,888 in SNAP fraud.
• Dawn M. Callahan, 53, of Newtown Square in Delaware County, for $2,856 in SNAP fraud.
• Terrahn C. Sanders, 33, of Erie in Erie County, for $2,837 in SNAP fraud.
• Kia L. Katerman, 32, of Reading in Berks County, for $2,783 in SNAP fraud.
• Brigida Tineo, 48, of Hazleton in Luzerne County, for $2,730.33 in cash assistance fraud.
• John S. Klingensmith, 57, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $2,373 in SNAP fraud and $345 in LIHEAP fraud.
• Daniel G. Garipoli, 38, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $2,711 in SNAP fraud.
• Jesseca L. Byers, 39, of Saxonburg in Butler County, for $2,600 in SNAP fraud.
• Melissa A. Baker, 42, of Erie in Erie County, for $2,424 in SNAP fraud and $118 in LIHEAP fraud.
• Lacy M. Leonhart, 37, of Springboro in Crawford County, for $2,517 in SNAP fraud.
• Christina I. Harrington, 33, of Willow Grove in Montgomery County, for $2,497.88 in SNAP fraud.
• Shelly Parker, 48, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $2,499 in SNAP fraud.
• Carlene R. Haubois, 33, of Allentown in Lehigh County, for $2,457 in SNAP fraud.
• Delilah R. Pope, 29, of New Castle in Lawrence County, for $2,421 in SNAP fraud.
• Kathryn M. Keefer, 35, of Port Trevorton in Snyder County, for $2,372 in SNAP fraud.
• Amber L. Simms, 24, of Derry in Westmoreland County, for $2,142 in SNAP fraud.
• Toni Jo Daniels, 29, of Aston in Delaware County, for $2,141 in SNAP fraud.
• James M. Wylie, 30, of Ebensburg in Cambria County, for $1,879 in SNAP fraud.
• Kioni N. Blockem, 26, of Lewistown in Mifflin County, for $1,850 in SNAP fraud.
• Jaime L. Kraft, 34, of Annville in Lebanon County, for $1,821 in SNAP fraud.
• Sharon L. Bolkovac, 64, of New Kensington in Westmoreland County, for $1,756 in SNAP fraud.
• Alysha A. Henrich, 28, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $1,721 in SNAP fraud.
• Mica Church, 33, of Wallingford in Delaware County, for $1,654 in SNAP fraud.
• Allison Audino, 38, of New Castle in Lawrence County, for $1,603.69 in medical assistance fraud.
• Kristi N. Zier, 24, of New Cumberland in York County, for $1,603 in SNAP fraud.
• Roshaine S. Miller, 30, of Allentown in Lehigh County, for $1,558 in SNAP fraud.
If convicted, the maximum penalty they face is five years in prison and a fine of $10,000, plus a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they defrauded.
The OSIG filed 21 criminal cases of fraudulently receiving public assistance in Pennsylvania that were graded as a misdemeanor of the second degree. The defendants are:
• Aushakee B. Ferguson, 26, of McKeesport in Allegheny County, for $1,177.23 in cash assistance fraud.
• Wilma Vazquez-Perez, 46, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $1,430 in SNAP fraud.
• David K. Lollo, 70, of Braddock in Allegheny County, for $1,089 in SNAP fraud.
• Brittny E. Ross-Brandau, 30, of Verona in Allegheny County for $1,094 in SNAP fraud.
• Christine R. Dario, 40, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $1,186 in SNAP fraud.
• Charmaine Kelley, 44, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $1,290 in SNAP fraud.
• Samuel D. Benitez-Dominguez, 49, of Reading in Berks County, for $1,248 in SNAP fraud.
• Jose R. Narvaez-Arroyo, 36, of Reading in Berks County, for $1,164 in SNAP fraud.
• Shelly A. Creighton, 42, of Murrysville in Westmoreland County, for $1,060 in SNAP fraud.
• Everett T. Miller, 44, of Reading in Berks County, for $1,456 in SNAP fraud.
• Ana O. Dominici, 34, of Lancaster in Lancaster County, for $1,451 in SNAP fraud.
• Tenesha C. Kirlew, 25, of Upper Darby in Delaware County, for $1,446 in SNAP fraud.
• Don A. Sadler, 51, of Glenolden in Delaware County, for $1,428 in SNAP fraud.
• Kimberly Schouppe, 31, of Hellertown in Northampton County, for $1,422 in cash assistance fraud.
• Jennifer N. Arlotta, 34, of Tarentum in Allegheny County, for $466 in SNAP fraud and $948 in cash assistance fraud.
• Orlando Delgado, 28, of Lansdale in Montgomery County, for $1,298 in SNAP fraud.
• Elizabeth N. Marshall, 25, of Carlisle in Cumberland County, for $1,293 in SNAP fraud.
• Kristie M. Gibbs, 32, of Connellsville in Fayette, for $1,224 in cash assistance fraud.
• Teresa M. Brown, 32, of York in York County, for $1,073 in SNAP fraud.
• DeSonya M. Ponton, 49, of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, for $1,043 in SNAP fraud.
• Ronnaye K. Willis, 27, of Johnstown in Cambria County, for $514 in SNAP fraud and $1,377.63 in cash assistance fraud.
If convicted, the maximum penalty they face is two years in prison and a fine of $5,000, plus a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they defrauded.
The OSIG filed five criminal cases of fraudulently receiving public assistance in Pennsylvania that were graded as a misdemeanor of the third degree. The defendants are:
• Stacey M. Ness, 40, of Hanover in York County, for $599 in SNAP fraud.
• Melanie S. Barnaby, 51, of Belle Vernon in Westmoreland County, for $689.59 in medical assistance fraud.
• Timothy R. Daniels, 43, of Mill Run in Fayette County, for $946 in SNAP fraud.
• Tina L. Hale, 47, of New Oxford in Adams County, for $794 in SNAP fraud.
• Kiara C. Blakey, 28, of Uniontown in Fayette County, for $681 in cash assistance fraud.
If convicted, the maximum penalty they face is one year in prison and a fine of $2,500, plus a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they defrauded.
To report suspected fraud please call the Welfare Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582 or visit the OSIG website at www.oig.pa.gov. Tipsters may remain anonymous.