LEWISTON — The head of the state’s agency that administers welfare benefits was in the city Thursday to warn of elder abuse and to highlight a local woman who, investigators said, scammed a dozen local people out of more than $150,000.
Tanya Boutelle, 54, was indicted last week by an Androscoggin County grand jury on three theft charges and one count of tampering with a victim. Two of the charges are Class B felonies, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The other two charges are Class C felonies, each carrying a maximum of five years in prison.
Investigators said a dozen victims have been identified, ranging in age from 53 to 86.
What began as a welfare fraud investigation unearthed evidence of theft from individuals when Boutelle borrowed money against the anticipated proceeds from a sale or court settlement, investigators said.
Thomas Roth, director of Fraud Operations with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, said at a Thursday news conference that investigators suspect Boutelle may have used the ploy on others and encouraged them to call investigator Mark Arnold at the local DHHS office at 207-795-4332.
Investigators say Boutelle claimed a total of $3,700 in welfare benefits to which she wasn’t entitled by failing to disclose income to the agency.
Mary Mayhew, commissioner of DHHS, said at the conference that her department often sees ties between welfare fraud and other crimes, such as theft and illegal drug trafficking.
“In this case, along with the alleged money stolen from taxpayers, the targets of the additional alleged crimes were elderly Maine citizens,” Mayhew said. “We must continue to hold individuals accountable, preserve tax dollars for the truly needy and protect our elderly and vulnerable citizens.”
She noted that while only 10 cases of possible welfare fraud were referred from her department to the Office of the Maine Attorney General in 2010, last year, DHHS referred 105 cases to the AG’s office, representing a total of $1.2 million of taxpayer money.
cwilliams@sunjournal.com
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