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.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016