AUBURN — County jail administrators said this week that they continue to confiscate Electronic Benefit Transfer cards from inmates during intake when the card is not in the name of the person who has it. The cards, used for the distribution of state and federal welfare benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known […]
fraud
Posted inMaine
Maine benefit bartering. Growing form of fraud: EBT cards to buy drugs
But also in Robinson’s possession that day were six state-issued electronic benefit transfer cards — essentially debit cards loaded with welfare benefits, with some benefits available as cash — from state and federal programs meant to help poor families and children. Those cards had been reported lost or stolen by their owners 114 times and re-issued […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. LePage: Welfare fraud investigations, prosecutions up
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration says the number of welfare fraud investigations and prosecutions have gone up significantly. The Department of Health and Human Services says that it referred 81 welfare fraud cases to the attorney general in 2014, up from 10 cases in 2010. It says it has referred 35 […]
Posted inMaine
Criminal charges anticipated against man accused of stealing $3.8M from Camden charity
ROCKLAND — Criminal charges are anticipated soon against the former head of a Camden area charity accused of stealing $3.8 million from the organization. Those charges could come within the next few weeks, according to Attorney Peter DeTroy, who represents Russell “Rusty” Brace. DeTroy submitted a motion Monday in Knox County Superior Court asking for […]
Posted inBusiness, Nation / World, New England, sj-web
Vermont temporarily suspends tax refunds over recent fraud
MONTPELIER, Vt. — The state tax department said Friday it had temporarily stopped issuing personal income tax refunds while it investigates recent cases of refund fraud. The move came as TurboTax, the country’s most popular do-it-yourself tax preparation software, said it had temporarily stopped processing state tax returns because of an increase in fraudulent filings. […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston woman admits to welfare fraud
AUBURN — A Lewiston woman who claimed her daughter was living with her so she could collect welfare was sentenced Friday to spend three months in jail. Prosecutors said Jessica Jordan, 36, of 75 Summer St. lied on state documents to indicate her now-16-year-old daughter had lived with her from August 2013 to February 2014, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston man charged with credit card fraud
LIVERMORE — Police said a Lewiston man was arrested Thursday, charged with credit card fraud that cost one victim at least $4,000. Androscoggin County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Justin Chiaravelotti, 22, on a charge of theft by deception and on a warrant charging theft by unauthorized taking, according to a news release. On Wednesday, sheriff’s officials […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston agrees to federal terms to settle Soule fraud deal
LEWISTON — The city will take a deal offered by two federal agencies to pay penalties for fraudulent loans in 2007 and 2008 to Lewiston developer Travis Soule. “I think this will allow us to bring the situation to a conclusion,” City Administrator Ed Barrett said. “We’ve changed our process so it does not happen […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Peaks Island woman who stole from boss gets three years in prison
PORTLAND (AP) — A Maine woman accused of stealing more than $70,000 from her boss after he ended their affair has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to repay the money. The Press Herald reported (http://bit.ly/XD9kx0 ) that 56-year-old Sharon Conley of Peaks Island in Portland was sentenced Tuesday in federal court. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine man sentenced for stealing $14M from bank
PORTLAND — A former man who pleaded guilty to stealing $14 million and spending it on vacations, his children’s education, prostitutes and a house for his mistress is going to prison for 10 years. Walter Scott Fox, a business owner and former bank officer, was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Portland. Assistant U.S. Attorney […]