A Green River woman who is accused of collecting about $23,000 through alleged welfare fraud pleaded not guilty to a felony charge.
Maria Magana appeared in the Third District Court of Judge Nena James at an arraignment to a felony charge of public welfare benefits fraud. If found guilty of this charge, Magana could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and maximum fine of $10,000.
According to affidavit information, on May 17, 2012, the Department of Family Services Fraud and Recovery Unit received an anonymous letter which asked how Magana and her husband Horacio Magana could receive benefits based on their household income.
An investigator with the DFS Fraud and Recovery Unit started to review the Medicad applications made by Maria and started verifying the household income from her husband, Horacio.
On Dec. 3, 2009, Maria submitted a renewal form for Medicaid for her two children to DFS. She reported the household income, which included her husband, Horacio to allegedly be $2,000. The actual income recorded for that month was $4,737.50.
On Oct. 25, 2010, Maria submitted a renewal form for Medicaid for her two children to DFS. She reported the household income, which included her husband, Horacio to allegedly be $2,100. The actual income recorded for that month was $7,815.76
On Oct. 6, 2011, Maria submitted a renewal form for Medicaid for her two children to DFS. She reported the household income, which included her husband, Horacio to allegedly be $2,100. The actual income recorded for that month was $7,562.50.
On Dec. 27, 2011, Maria submitted an application for the Pregnant Woman Program. Maria indicated that her husband, Horacio, was the father and that the household income was allegedly $2,300. The actual income for that month was $7,050.
On Sept. 4, 2012, Maria submitted a renewal form for Medicaid for her three children to DFS. She reported the household income, which included her husband, Horacio to allegedly be $2,500. The actual income for that month was $8,877.
On April 12, 2013, Maria submitted a renewal form for Medicaid for her three children to DFS. She reported the household income, which included her husband, Horacio to allegedly be $2,500. The actual income for that month was $8,326.
On July 23, 2013, Maria submitted a renewal form for Medicaid for her three children to DFS. She reported the household income, which included her husband, Horacio to allegedly be $2,500. The actual income for that month was $6,496.
On each of the applications, Maria reported the household income to DFS, but on each application she allegedly under reported the income. During these periods Maria and each of her children were not eligible for medical services.
The total tax payer dollars allegedly unlawfully received is $22,868.16.
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