New Jersey – More Welfare Arrests Expected Wednesday As Feds Warn Lakewood: The Party Is Over

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    FBI conducting raids  in connection with a public-assistance fraud scheme in Lakewood, N.J.(The Asbury Park Press via AP)Lakewood, NJ – One day after four Lakewood couples were arrested for fraudulently underreporting their incomes in order to illegally take advantage of more than $1 million in state and federal benefits, township phones have been ringing off the hook, with hundreds of area residents requesting advice on how to avoid being arrested for public assistance fraud.

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    As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2tVBrsb), the investigation was initiated by the FBI and the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller, later growing to include the Social Security Administration, the New Jersey Department of Treasury and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

    More arrests are expected to take place, possibly as soon as early Wednesday morning, reported NJ.com(http://bit.ly/2tW8pbR).

    Complaints in the impending arrests involve fraudulent activity that has been taking place for as long as five years and Monday’s arrests appear to be just the tip of the iceberg.

    “We are sending a message to this community that the party is over,” said one law enforcement source.

    According to the Asbury Park Press (http://on.app.com/2tVVsyG), a law enforcement source who agreed to speak only on the condition of anonymity said that dozens of people have called the Ocean County Social Services office asking to discontinue their public assistance benefits or to revise the income information they had previously submitted.

    Millions of dollars in public assistance have allegedly been fraudulently distributed in the Lakewood area, said the source.

    According to authorities, the investigation into financial irregularities in Lakewood has been ongoing for three years.

    Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles said that he was disturbed by the recent arrests and that there are many people in the town who are truly in need of financial assistance.

    “I have a waiting list of Section 8 vouchers of maybe 2,000 families that really need it,” said Coles. “I hate to see things like that.”


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    39 Comments
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    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    6 years ago

    סוף גנב לתליה……
    Unfortunately most people in Lakewood can barely make ends meet and need those programs to survive ….
    If the Talmud teaches us to go out and work to bring home a parnassah then why are thousands sitting and learning on the cheshbon of the government.
    They know it all and watching us with binoculars every move.
    About time to change how we plan on raising a erliche generation.
    The mailman sees it all and so does the government employees.

    6 years ago

    People want to know how to avoid getting arrested?

    It’s simple. DON’T LIE. If you truly need welfare, apply & accept it. If you don’t but steal anyway… you’ll get what you deserve. And please, don’t all you holier than thou supporters say how much Tzedaka they gave. Did MY taxes go to these causes? Did the fraudsters ask me if it is OK?

    I am so furious at these walking Chillulei Hashem. How dare they!

    grandbear
    grandbear
    6 years ago

    What are necessities today were called luxuries years ago. Few had cars or telephones and all of the gadgets that are in use today never existed.My father was only 1 year in america at the time of his bar mitzva and the celebration in school was some cake and bronfin .In my family there was never a lavish wedding like we see today.If someone had a silver kiddush cup it was a luxury ,as a laborer made just enough to pay rent and buy food.Today every family likes to live like the wealthy do with multiple vacations, a year in israel for each child and winter vacations in faraway places.

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    6 years ago

    “… township phones have been ringing off the hook, with hundreds of area residents requesting advice on how to avoid being arrested for public assistance fraud.” How about not defrauding the public? Just tossing crazy ideas out here.

    Shlomo-1
    Shlomo-1
    6 years ago

    Where in the Torah does it teach us to not have a trade and to rely upon theft?
    R”L

    6 years ago

    Lakewood is not the only place that the communities have evolved into a culture of dependency. Staying in kollel without limits on yenem’s expense is batantly dishonest, and true Torah cannot result from gezailoh or sheker. We would all say this if asked. But in practice, it is different. Everyone is a learning boy, and every girl wants to say that she is married to one. But these are truly few and far between. Our kollelim are overfilled with bench warmers, who would be doing a greater favor to themselves, to the Klal, and to HKB”H if they went to work. The Gemora says this openly, requiring one to establish a residence and parnosoh before getting married. It is tantamount to kefira to claim that one must postpone the requirement of parnosoh until later, when it is too late to achieve a gainful parnosoh. No, it is not called emunoh or bitachon to hide in the beis hamedrash and expect it to fall from heaven.

    Perhaps since parents are no longer guaranteed to be able to support, then sponging from government entitlements is the thing. Well, those days are over, and unfortunately there will be korbanos who will have to benefit from the commissary.

    6 years ago

    The problem with these type of charges is that we do not have access to see the actual records as to what was actually transpiring. So, for example, the Feds claim that one couple allegedly had income of some $1 million which they allegedly hid through companies which the paperwork showed were “run” by relatives but which de facto were controlled by the couple in question. Personally, I don’t really know what that allegation even means. If the legal paperwork shows that relative “A” has legal authority to dispense the assets/income of company “A”, then what does it mean to state that this couple in question de facto controlled company “A”? Can’t relative “A” simply take the assets of company “A” and thumb his nose at the couple in question and the couple have no legal recourse?

    Secular
    Secular
    6 years ago

    שִׁמְעוּ דְבַר-יְהוָה, בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: כִּי רִיב לַיהוָה, עִם-יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ–כִּי אֵין-אֱמֶת וְאֵין-חֶסֶד וְאֵין-דַּעַת אֱלֹהִים, בָּאָרֶץ
    אָלֹה וְכַחֵשׁ, וְרָצֹחַ וְגָנֹב וְנָאֹף; פָּרָצוּ, וְדָמִים בְּדָמִים נָגָעוּ
    וַיַּדְרְכוּ אֶת-לְשׁוֹנָם קַשְׁתָּם שֶׁקֶר, וְלֹא לֶאֱמוּנָה גָּבְרוּ בָאָרֶץ: כִּי מֵרָעָה אֶל-רָעָה יָצָאוּ וְאֹתִי לֹא-יָדָעוּ, נְאֻם-יְהוָה
    אִישׁ מֵרֵעֵהוּ הִשָּׁמֵרוּ, וְעַל-כָּל-אָח אַל-תִּבְטָחוּ: כִּי כָל-אָח עָקוֹב יַעְקֹב, וְכָל-רֵעַ רָכִיל יַהֲלֹךְ
    וְאִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ יְהָתֵלּוּ, וֶאֱמֶת לֹא יְדַבֵּרוּ; לִמְּדוּ לְשׁוֹנָם דַּבֶּר-שֶׁקֶר, הַעֲוֵה נִלְאוּ
    שִׁבְתְּךָ, בְּתוֹךְ מִרְמָה; בְּמִרְמָה מֵאֲנוּ דַעַת-אוֹתִי, נְאֻם-יְהוָה
    וָאֹמַר, שִׁמְעוּ-נָא רָאשֵׁי יַעֲקֹב, וּקְצִינֵי, בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל: הֲלוֹא לָכֶם, לָדַעַת אֶת-הַמִּשְׁפָּט
    שֹׂנְאֵי טוֹב, וְאֹהֲבֵי רעה (רָע); גֹּזְלֵי עוֹרָם מֵעֲלֵיהֶם, וּשְׁאֵרָם מֵעַל עַצְמוֹתָם
    רָאשֶׁיהָ בְּשֹׁחַד יִשְׁפֹּטוּ, וְכֹהֲנֶיהָ בִּמְחִיר יוֹרוּ, וּנְבִיאֶיהָ, בְּכֶסֶף יִקְסֹמוּ; וְעַל-יְהוָה, יִשָּׁעֵנוּ לֵאמֹר, הֲלוֹא יְהוָה בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ, לֹא-תָבוֹא עָלֵינוּ רָעָה

    הִגִּיד לְךָ אָדָם, מַה-טּוֹב; וּמָה-יְהוָה דּוֹרֵשׁ מִמְּךָ, כִּי אִם-עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד, וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת, עִם-אֱלֹהֶיךָ

    FBF37
    FBF37
    6 years ago

    From the posts the other day and even from a few of the above. We can all agree the “system” has it’s issues. Who created this system? Who can change the system so we do not have such stories. The Rabbonim. We need to pressure the Rosh Yeshivas, Agudah etc to either change their ways or have them resign and have new leadership (including the Motzes) take it’s place. There is no way for us to change unless the Rabbonim lead the way. Either that or the whole Klal (not just a few, ALL of us) stand up to the Rabbonim. Enough is enough.

    6 years ago

    Now, we shouldn’t wonder why Moshiach hasn’t come yet.

    MyThreeCents
    MyThreeCents
    6 years ago

    I don’t understand how anyone can be on these programs legally. It is impossible to live on such a low income that is eligible for programs. Even the cleaning ladies we have who are probably on government programs are making money off the books and living with multiple families in too small housing just to be able to exist. I used to get HEAP but wasn’t even eligible for food stamps or medicaid and we couldn’t even afford to pay our kids tuition or even summer camp. Yet my husband worked on the books and paid taxes and I had a part time job. We weren’t able to get programs and we lived far from luxuriously. I bought my kids clothes at the flea market (no Deja New in those days) A family member helped pay for other necessary clothing etc. I never had cleaning help. Now everyone NEEDs cleaning help, even if they live in a small apartment. I could go on and on. Bottom line is, you can’t live even on a basic standard without extras today even if both parents are working, and if the government has programs, I can understand why people use them.

    radrad
    radrad
    6 years ago

    The picture of the home – if caption is accurate – is far from what the home of a public assistance family would have.
    I see the ppl who receive “public assistance” on line in supermarkets pulling out their WIC cards etc — many of them are dripping diamonds! How is that?

    6 years ago

    1 of a few
    I generally do not comment on these forums, but after reading the comments, I feel compelled to comment.
    Firstly, many people are showing great animosity to our fellow Jews who collect the benefits, it is important that everyone understands that although it is our culture to “work for a living” and it is the duty of every man to bring home a parnasa for their family, in the US the laws allow, and even encourage people who are having a hard time to apply, and get the benefits that are available to all Americans. This is not limited to Jews, but to all Americans and in many instances illegal aliens as well.

    Regarding the abuse, many people are expressing that they think that it is the Jews who are mostly abusing the system, but I have a great deal of experience in delaing with people from other cultures and I can tell you that there is a great deal of abuse in many other communities as well. Granted, the media is always out to get the Jew, but it is important that people understand that.

    6 years ago

    2 of a few
    For example, for business purposes, we frequent the African American areas often, and I can say that all the time in the Bronx, Brownsville, BedStuy, and many other areas, you can drive through at any time during the day and the streets are packed with men of all ages who seem to be in perfect health simply hanging out on streets, on the corners, drinking beer, and doing nothing constructive but still collecting all benefits, for free. These people are doing random side cash jobs, which of course they are not reporting and yet they are receiving all the benefits. At least by us, the people are not doing nothing, these are yingerleit who simply want to try to learn Torah, and of course, most of them genuinely qualify for the programs without lying and commiting fraud.

    Another example is the Hispanic community. How many of us have housekeepers, who of course are being paid in cash, and are not reporting it. If the average housekeeper makes $400 per week, that is (at least) $1200 per month of unreported income. Of course, they also receive all of the benefits that they are able to get.

    6 years ago

    3 of a few
    How many shopkeepers report all of the cash receivables? Of course the credit card and checks are reported because they go through the bank, but it seems that many who are familiar with retail practices especially in the smaller neighborhood stores can say that not all cash receivables are reported. Another issue that is commonly seen is sales tax. In some areas it has become the norm simply not to pay sales tax when paying in cash and some businesses will even say that “if you pay me in cash, well save you the tax” of course this is illegal, but it is commonly done and seen.

    I have been in stores and have seen people brazenly say “I don’t pay sales tax”, and when the store owner insists, the customer walks out.
    How can someone have the nerve to even talk like that?

    6 years ago

    Nobody should ever show animosity, contempt or anything negative to ANYONE who genuinely needs public assistance. There of many of us in that situation, sadly. But you misread the comments. The only animosity is towards the scammers and fraudsters who are not only fleecing the government, but who are also robbing us – the taxpayers – as well as making a chilul Hashem. I don’t know if any of you remember the Solomon Dweck scandal from a few years ago, but every time another frum Jew is arrested for financial crimes, it just feeds into the bigoted stereotype of money-grubbing Jews.

    6 years ago

    last of a few

    People wonder, how could the child of such a wealthy businessman qualify and be on welfare programs. The answer is pretty simple. The young couple is not making enough of there of there own money to be ineligible for the programs and therefore they legally qualify to receive the governments help. We have all seen at times, and the logic of the parents of these young couples is understandable. “If I am paying so much into the system, why shouldn’t my child be a recipient instead of the randoms who will receive it.”

    In closing,
    It seems strange when you see a young couple living comfortably with a fancy car, children well dressed, and a Bugaboo and then pull out a benefit card, but in reality, if the car is his mothers, and the Bugaboo was a gift from her family or friends, and the grandmother took the kids shopping, as crazy and as unfair as it sounds, it is legal.

    In being Dan Lekaf Zechut for our fellow brethren, we need to believe that this is the case, and most of the people who receive the benefits are legally eligible for them.

    Erlich
    Erlich
    6 years ago

    The whole culture of Lakewood and other places where bochurim don’t get a decent university education is completely wrong. In the secular Jewish world, being highly educated is treasured. Before World War 2, there were no system of kollels like today. Return to the good old days.

    cowdoc
    cowdoc
    6 years ago

    # 18
    Do you justify stealing because in certain other populations there are those that do?
    Why do you pay housekeepers cash? Paying on the books protects her and you, but if one gets the money illegally then I guess you have to dispose of it illegally to keep it off of your books.
    Honestly, when you talk about people learning, how many people can actually learn for hours on end? When I went to professional school and you had to retain the information and not just go through the motions of learning, lectures were at most five hours daily because only a very few gifted people can spend more time concentrating, so please none of you folks tell me that the quantity of boys sitting are all capable of doing full day learning.
    Anyhow the cheating and stealing of community members has been discussed ad nauseam as have the feeble attempts to justify it