A woman who pleaded guilty to welfare fraud was ordered to pay the money back as part of her probation conditions.
Natasha York, of Green River, also known as Natasha Ann Crooks, appeared in the Third District Court of Judge Richard Lavery at a sentencing hearing to public welfare benefits fraud.
In exchange for York’s guilty plea to public welfare benefits fraud, York was placed on five years supervised probation. Under the plea agreement and Wyoming Statute 7-13-301, York’s charge will be dismissed if she successfully completes her probation. This statute is designed for first-time offenders and can only be used once.
One term of the probation is York must pay $11,660.86 to the Department of Family Services.
According to court documents, on Jan. 13, 2012, York submitted an application for Medicaid benefits for herself with the Department of Family Services. York’s children were already receiving Medicaid benefits. This application was denied because the net income of $1,820 exceeded the income limit of $659 for a household of four.
On July 19, 2012, York submitted an application for Medicaid benefits to DFS for herself, her three children and her unborn child. Those benefits were approved for everyone and started July 1, 2012.
On March 15, 2013, she was sent a renewal notice; and on April 2, 2013, a renewal approval was sent to her. All benefits for her four children and herself were approved.
On July 30, 2013, York submitted an application for SNAP benefits. Prior to the interview, benefits specialist Brenda Wilcox checked the address history for Jon Crooks and York with the Wyoming Department of Transportation computer site. Wilcox found both York and Crooks had vehicles registered to the same address.
During an interview with York on July 31, 2013, Wilcox asked York about the living situation; and York admitted to living with Crooks for the past two years.
After the interview, Wilcox reviewed previous addresses of both Crooks and York and found they both lived at the same address in 2007.
On Aug. 14, 2013, Cheryle Baxter, Fraud and Recovery Intake Specialist in Basin received this information from Wilcox; and the case was passed onto Marcia Kealy in Cheyenne.
Kealy requested income information on York from Castle Rock Hospital; and on Crooks from Power Service. She also sought employment verification on York; and found out she still worked at Castle Rock, while Crooks was still employed with Power Services.
Kealy wanted to determine the overpayment amount.
She then sent a letter to York requesting a meeting to discuss the Medicaid eligibility.
On April 8, 2014, York met with Fraud and Recovery supervisor Michele Rossetti and Kealy at the DFS office in Rock Springs. At this time, York told them she did not add Crooks to the application because she did not think their relationship was stable enough.
On July 17, 2014, three claims were established for Medicaid as York was not eligible for Medicaid from August 2012 to April 2013; and one son was not eligible from March 2013 to July 2013. It was determined that York was overpaid $11,660.86.
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