45 people charged with welfare fraud across Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Forty-five people across the state were charged with welfare fraud totaling over $240,000 for the month of December, according to state officials.

The Office of State Inspector General filed the charges, and 35 of the cases reached the felony level.

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In western Pennsylvania, there were 10 cases:

• Rebecca Evans, of Greensburg in Westmoreland County, for $9,824.03 in Medical Assistance fraud and $8,8784 in SNAP fraud
• Deborah Wittig, of Bruin in Clarion County, for $16,361 in SNAP fraud
• Nicole Tyler, of Penn in Westmoreland County, for $9,157 in SNAP fraud and $501 for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program fraud
• Hannah Conway, of Irwin in Westmoreland County, for $9,282 in SNAP fraud
• Tina Harris, of Pittsburgh, for $4,841 in SNAP fraud
• Sarah Smithson, of Pittsburgh, for $3,027.17 in SNAP fraud
• Damion and Sydnei Green, of New Castle in Lawrence County, for $2,715.50 in Cash Assistance fraud
• Tanisha Cooper, of Homestead, for $2,563 in Cash Assistance fraud
• Michelle Waugaman, of Greensburg in Westmoreland County, for $2,102 in SNAP fraud
• John Mollett, of Aliquippa in Beaver County, for $1,365.91 in Medical Assistance fraud and $254 in SNAP fraud

If convicted, they could face up to seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000.

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