JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – A Jefferson County woman waived her preliminary hearing on felony charges yesterday in relation to an incident where she allegedly failed to report her husband’s income in order to obtain a number of public assistance benefits.
Court documents indicate the following charge against 39-year-old Deborah Sue Greeley, of Brookville, was waived for court on Tuesday, April 23:
– Fraud Obtain Foodstamps/Assistance, Felony 3
The charge has been transferred to the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas.
Greely remains free on $5,000.00 unsecured bail.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, a caseworker who was actively administering the case received information from an anonymous tip that Deborah Sue Greeley did not report her husband living with her when she applied for benefits on November 16, 2016.
A referral was made to the PA Office of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate for fraud.
The complaint states that the OIG investigation discovered that Greeley “willfully failed to report her husband living with (her) nor did she report his wages to the Department of Human Services knowing this would negatively affect her eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medical Assistance (MA), and Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LiHEAP) Benefits.”
According to the complaint, Greeley acknowledged she was interviewed on November 16, 2016, by the caseworker who explained the Public Assistance Application Rights and Responsibilities Statement. Greeley also acknowledged she understood the rights and responsibility to report changes by the tenth of the month following the month of change to the Department of Human Services and that all information reported is true and correct under penalty of law.
Additionally, Greeley signed an affidavit to report changes on November 16, 2016, and again on November 6, 2017. These rights and responsibilities were also reviewed with Greeley by a caseworker who will testify that Greeley understood them, according to the complaint.
Payroll records reviewed by investigators verify dates of employment and wages for Greeley’s husband. Also, the payroll administrator will testify to Greeley’s husband’s payroll records, the complaint states.
Certified SNAP, MA, and LiHEAP transcripts verify the amount of benefits received during the overpayment period.
The complaint states that a follow-up investigation verified that Greeley knowingly withheld information from the Department of Human Services in order to fraudulently obtain SNAP, MA, and LiHEAP benefits that she was not eligible from October 1, 2016, to July 31, 2018, totaling $19,551.09.
Based on the investigation, charges were filed in Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office on February 28, 2019, and a certified summons was issued.
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