Welfare Fraud Investigation

[NIK Newsbot]

Kokomo Police Department Drug Task Force investigators and Howard County Prosecutor Mark McCann, worked closely together during a two month welfare fraud investigation that led investigators to the arrest of two individuals listed below:

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Maria Michaels 42, was arrested at the Howard County Court House and charged with Aiding, Inducing, Causing Welfare Fraud, a Class A Misdemeanor

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Holly A. Patton (Seals), age 29 was arrested at her residence located at 908 N. Morrison, Kokomo, and charged with Welfare Fraud, a Class A Misdemeanor.

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The investigation continues.* These subjects were transported to the Howard County Jail with no injuries reported.

The Kokomo Police Department would like to thank the citizens of Kokomo who forward any information and complaints on drug activity, as well as other illegal activity.

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Anyone having further information regarding these investigations is asked to contact Captain Robert Salinas (765) 456-7204 or the Kokomo Police Department Hotline at (765) 456-7017.*

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All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Maria Michaels

Holly Patton






More...

[Grumpy]

They both should have used their government money for a personal beautification project.

[Political Zoo]

Didn't with have a KPD officer who was involved with the same thing with his wife and mother-in-law?

[Grumpy]

Sure did but they are protected from the law, at least they seem to be in Kokomo.

[notinkokomo]

Kokomo sergeant resigns amidst welfare fraud allegations

Jeff McKay was apparently never charged in this case.

Kasey McKay was charged with a Class D Felony - Welfare Fraud, plead guilty in June 2010 and was sentenced to two years in prison. All but 2 days of the sentence was suspended. She also was ordered to pay $5,800 in restitution to the Indiana Department of FSSA and serve 100 hours community service.

It appears that Theresa Williams (Kasey McKay's mother mentioned in the above article) was never charged.

NIK

[notinkokomo]

County employee arrested for welfare fraud - Kokomo Perspective: Local News

Well, well, well... the plot thickens.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if this was some form of political game-playing.

It's looks like one of these ladies is employed by the Howard County Clerk's office... not exactly a friend of certain other officials in Kokomo.

We'll see.

NIK

[notinkokomo]

Curious about the Indiana Law, so we looked it up:

IC 35-43-5-7
Welfare fraud

Sec. 7. (a) A person who knowingly or intentionally:

(1) obtains public relief or assistance by means of impersonation, fictitious transfer, false or misleading oral or written statement, fradulent conveyance, or other fraudulent means;
(2) acquires, possesses, uses, transfers, sells, trades, issues, or disposes of:
(A) an authorization document to obtain public relief or assistance;
(B) public relief or assistance; except as authorized by law;

(3) uses, transfers, acquires, issues, or possesses a blank or incomplete authorization document to participate in public relief or assistance programs, except as authorized by law;

(4) counterfeits or alters an authorization document to receive public relief or assistance, or knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, or possesses a counterfeit or altered authorization document to receive public relief or assistance; or

(5) conceals information for the purpose of receiving public relief or assistance to which he is not entitled; commits welfare fraud, a Class A misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (b).

(b) The offense is:

(1) a Class D felony if:

(A) the amount of public relief or assistance involved is more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) but less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500); or

(B) the amount involved is not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and the person has a prior conviction of welfare fraud under this section; and

(2) a Class C felony if the amount of public relief or assistance involved is two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) or more, regardless of whether the person has a prior conviction of welfare fraud under this section.
(c) Whenever a person is convicted of welfare fraud under this section, the clerk of the sentencing court shall certify to the appropriate state agency and the appropriate agency of the county of the defendant's residence:

(1) his conviction; and
(2) whether the defendant is placed on probation and restitution is ordered under IC 35-38-2.

As added by P.L.182-1984, SEC.5.

Just so I have this straight... the Howard County Prosecutor and the Kokomo Drug Task Force spent two months 'investigating' a less than $250.00 welfare fraud case?

Something smells funny to me. How about you?

NIK

[Political Zoo]

Kokomo sergeant resigns amidst welfare fraud allegations

Jeff McKay was apparently never charged in this case.

Kasey McKay was charged with a Class D Felony - Welfare Fraud, plead guilty in June 2010 and was sentenced to two years in prison. All but 2 days of the sentence was suspended. She also was ordered to pay $5,800 in restitution to the Indiana Department of FSSA and serve 100 hours community service.

It appears that Theresa Williams (Kasey McKay's mother mentioned in the above article) was never charged.

NIK

Resigned to keep from being charged, which was wrong. He should have been held to a higher standard.

[Old Buick]

Resigned or not....he should have been charged & faced the same justice the rest of would have had to face.....Typical Kokomo politics...

[notinkokomo]

Curious about the Indiana Law, so we looked it up:



Just so I have this straight... the Howard County Prosecutor and the Kokomo Drug Task Force spent two months 'investigating' a less than $250.00 welfare fraud case?

Something smells funny to me. How about you?

NIK

Since no-one directly responded, I thought I'd ask again.

What's the real story here?

NIK