Thread: Texas - 3 Arrested for Food Stamp Fraud

3 Arrested for Food Stamp Fraud

0News
March 21, 2014

VIDEO REPORT AT LINK
Forty-one-year-old Irene Hernandez of Edinburg, 36-year-old Joleen Garcia of Elsa and 51-year-old Ester Sanchez of Edinburg were case workers at the Texas Department of Health and Human services office in Edinburg, until an investigation revealed they were part of a food stamp scheme.

Hernandez, Sanchez and Garcia were arraigned Friday by hidalgo county justice of the peace bobby Contreras, on theft of public servant and organized criminal activity charges.

According to the investigation, Irene Hernandez robbed more than $142,000 in benefits.

The other two suspects robbed close to $30,000 each.

The three suspects are accused of running the scheme for more than 2 years until their arrest this Thursday.

Hernandez was issued a $100,000 bond.

Sanchez and Garcia were slapped with $60,000 bonds each.
The U.S. Department of agriculture office the inspector general is investigating the case.

No word yet on how the suspects spent the money.
http://www.foxrio2.com/3-arrested-for-food-stamp-fraud/

THREE TEXAS EMPLOYEES CHARGED IN ALLEGED WELFARE FRAUD SCHEME



by KRISTIN TATE
27 Mar 2014

41-year-old Irene Hernandez, 51-year-old Ester Sanchez, and 36-year-old Joleen Garcia of Edinburg, Texas were recently arrested in relation to an alleged food stamp fraud scheme, according to local reports. The three women allegedly took advantage of their status as employees at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to conduct the scheme over a span of two years, according to a local Fox affiliate.

As advisers at the Texas HHSC, Hernandez, Sanchez, and Garcia would review and accept cases for individuals who wished to receive various government benefits, according to the report.

According Fox2, the women allegedly collected over $200,000 by accepting cash in exchange for approving reportedly ineligible recipients for government welfare. Prosecutors claim that Hernandez received a total of over $142,00 while Sanchez and Garcia received about $30,000 each.

A tip from an anonymous caller ultimately led to officers halting the alleged scheme. The three were fired from their positions at the Texas HHSC on January 24, according to local press. The McAllen Monitor reported that on March 21, Justice of the Peace Bobby Contreras charged them each with one count of organized criminal activity and one count of theft by a public servant.

This is just the most recent case in a string of Texas-based incidents involving welfare fraud.

Earlier this year, Breitbart News reported on Dallas convenience store owner Kamardeen Ogunleye and manager Robert Gordon, who were charged with running a food stamp scam that cost taxpayers $1.9 million.

Ogunleye and Gordon reportedly bought food stamps from numerous citizens enrolled in the program. They would allegedly give the recipients 50 percent of the food stamps' cash value and then keep the remaining amount for themselves. The scheme took place over a span of three years.

In an effort to reduce welfare dependency, Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Lubbock, Big Spring, Abilene) recently proposed that Texas take part in a pilot program for food stamp reform. The program is part of a larger effort to help families find work in the private sector while decreasing dependency on food stamps, Breitbart Texas reported.

"Spending on SNAP has grown tremendously over the past few years. Instead of just bandaging the problem, we should focus on creating genuine opportunity that will improve the quality of life for the families who need it most," Neugebauer wrote in a letter to the Texas Workforce Commission.

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-T...p-Fraud-Scheme

Woman Pleads Guilty in State Fraud Case

Defendant accused of stealing thousands of dollars
Jan 05, 2015

EDINBURG -A former state employee on Monday pleaded guilty to third-degree felony theft.
MORE FROM KRGV

Ester Mejia Sanchez had been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and theft of property by a public servant. She was one of three women facing the same charges.

According to prosecutors, the plot continued for at least a year and a half. All three defendants worked for the Texas Department of the Health and Human Services.

The three had people submit applications for state benefits, even when those people who were not eligible for the benefits.

With the employees' assistance, they applied for, and received, benefits designed to help needy families living far below the poverty line.

A percentage of that money would then be kicked back to the state employees who had helped them submit the bogus applications.

Mejia Sanchez was the first state employee to plead guilty. A co-defendant, Irene Hernandez, was also in court Monday. She told the judge she would also be pleading guilty.

Prosecutors say Hernandez had been defrauding the state for a lot longer. She took the state for about $200,000. Sanchez and another employee stole about $83,000.

Sanchez faced 2 to 10 years in prison, but instead of going to prison she must pay back her share of that $83,000 debt. She must pay half of that money up front or the deal will be off. She also must testify truthfully against her co-defendants if any go to trial.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/...-Case/30543376