On March 5, 2010, 7 residents from Long Island, New York were charged with stealing more than $252,000 of Medicaid benefits and food stamps by underreporting their income and failing to disclose millions of dollars worth of properties and businesses when applying with Nassau County Department of Social Services (DSS).
According to DSS, all 7 defendants owned personal properties throughout New York City, businesses and have enormous savings within their banks. However on their DSS Medicaid application, they purposely reported low incomes to qualify for Nassau County’s Medicaid and Welfare benefits.
Why most of Medicaid Fraud Cases are being prosecuted?
Intent to defraud is one important factor used in determining whether a case will be prosecuted. All Medicaid fraud cases in New York involved recipients who were being prosecuted involve persons who submitted false information on their Medicaid applications, particularly the information concerning their financial resources such as real properties, incomes, and cash.
Often at times investigators would request suspected individuals to attend an “interview” while bringing along certain documents which are served as evidence to incriminate such people.
The 7 individuals are:
Masoud Lovi ,and his wife Homa Lovi, Arely Sharifian, and his wife Shahron Solemani Sharifian were charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Welfare Fraud in the Second Degree, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. If convicted they face a maximum of 15 years of imprisonment.
Marouza Parveen, Shmuel Cohen and his wife Cheryl Cohen were arrested and charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. If convicted they face a total of 7 years in prison.