Welfare Sentence Imposed
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
A Winona Lake woman was sentenced last week in Kosciusko County's first conviction for welfare fraud.
Jeanette S. Hernandez, of Robson Road, Winona Lake, pleaded guilty to criminal conversion, a Class A misdemeanor, in Kosciusko County Court.
She was sentenced to a year in Kosciusko County Jail, with all but 10 days suspended; formal probation for one year; a fine of $1 plus court costs of $123; and restitution of $3,725, including $2,290 for Aid to Dependent Children and $1,435 in food stamps.
According to court documents, Hernandez reportedly continued to collect welfare benefits and food stamps even though she was working full-time and her income exceeded the welfare limit.
Genyce Dirico, Hernandez's caseworker, said the department's initial suspicions were raised during the food stamp audit in June 1995.
"You just have an instinct that possibly she was withholding some information," Dirico said.
Food stamp recipients are required to report changes in their financial situations within 10 days. Court records indicate that Hernandez received welfare benefits since November 1994, and reported no changes in her situation the following March and June. However, she had been employed by Maple Leaf Farms since November 1994.
She received $229 per month in Aid to Dependent Children and $212 per month in food stamps. Payroll records indicate her gross monthly income was nearly $1,400.
Dirico said she hopes Hernandez's conviction sends a message that violations will be taken more seriously in the future.
"Hopefully this will tell other recipients that they are breaking the law by not reporting personal income changes. This is a public program and they need to take responsibility for their actions," she said. "I've seen this happen before and they just had to repay. There needs to be more than a slap on the hand." [[In-content Ad]]
A Winona Lake woman was sentenced last week in Kosciusko County's first conviction for welfare fraud.
Jeanette S. Hernandez, of Robson Road, Winona Lake, pleaded guilty to criminal conversion, a Class A misdemeanor, in Kosciusko County Court.
She was sentenced to a year in Kosciusko County Jail, with all but 10 days suspended; formal probation for one year; a fine of $1 plus court costs of $123; and restitution of $3,725, including $2,290 for Aid to Dependent Children and $1,435 in food stamps.
According to court documents, Hernandez reportedly continued to collect welfare benefits and food stamps even though she was working full-time and her income exceeded the welfare limit.
Genyce Dirico, Hernandez's caseworker, said the department's initial suspicions were raised during the food stamp audit in June 1995.
"You just have an instinct that possibly she was withholding some information," Dirico said.
Food stamp recipients are required to report changes in their financial situations within 10 days. Court records indicate that Hernandez received welfare benefits since November 1994, and reported no changes in her situation the following March and June. However, she had been employed by Maple Leaf Farms since November 1994.
She received $229 per month in Aid to Dependent Children and $212 per month in food stamps. Payroll records indicate her gross monthly income was nearly $1,400.
Dirico said she hopes Hernandez's conviction sends a message that violations will be taken more seriously in the future.
"Hopefully this will tell other recipients that they are breaking the law by not reporting personal income changes. This is a public program and they need to take responsibility for their actions," she said. "I've seen this happen before and they just had to repay. There needs to be more than a slap on the hand." [[In-content Ad]]