New Jersey – Law Enforcement Continue Lakewood Medicaid/Government Assistance Fraud Arrests

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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 – Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and State Comptroller Philip James Degnan announced today additional ongoing arrests within Lakewood, New Jersey by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for defrauding Medicaid and government assistance programs.

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    The investigations initiated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Red Bank Office and the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller – Medicaid Fraud Division, were expanded to include the US Social Security Administration, New Jersey Department of the Treasury – Office of Criminal Investigation, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office – Economic Crimes Unit.

    The arrests made just before midnight (6/27), include charges of individuals collecting illegal benefits in the six-figure range.

    OCPO detectives/prosecutors, along with its collaborating agencies, continued Monday’s operation by arresting the following three married couples.

    Hearings are scheduled for 1:30 pm today (6/28) at Ocean County Superior Court.

    Yitzchock, 33, and Sora, 39, Kanarek of Brisk Lane – charged with 2nd Degree Theft by Deception for wrongfully collecting approximately $339,002.56 in Medicaid, SNAP, HUD, and SSI benefits between January 2009 and July 2014.

    Chaim, 40, and Liatt, 39, Ehrman of Twin Oaks Drive – charged with 2nd Degree Theft by Deception for wrongfully collecting approximately $185,692.22 in Medicaid, SNAP, HEAP, and Sandy benefits between January 2011 and December 2015

    William, 45, and Faigy, 40, Friedman of Leigh Drive – charged with 2nd Degree Theft by Deception for wrongfully collecting approximately $149,842.28 in Medicaid, SNAP, HEAP, and HUDbenefits between January 2011 and December 2015.

    The nature of the criminal events investigated and basic charges allege that the defendants misrepresented their income, declaring amounts that were low enough to receive the program’s benefits, when in fact their income was too high to qualify.

    The investigations revealed that the defendants’ received income from numerous sources that they failed to disclose on required program applications. As a result, they received benefits that they were not entitled to under these programs for themselves or family members.

    The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is prosecuting the above arrested individuals at the state level.

    The investigation by all the participating agencies is continuing and additional arrests are forthcoming.

    OCPO and our prosecuting partners may add additional relevant charges (ie. Tax charges) as each case proceeds through the legal process.

    The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are only allegations and that each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


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    89 Comments
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    6 years ago

    This is never gonna happen in BP or Willi. Those places have too much political power and NYC politicians are more easily corrupted than in NJ.

    bsnow
    bsnow
    6 years ago

    Nu nu

    yonasonw
    Member
    yonasonw
    6 years ago

    1 of 2

    Contributing to a group psychology which helps enable a massive fraud like this, I suggest, is an exaggerated and hostile disassociation from the larger American society, due to the following factors:

    1. The often asserted mantra that “…we’re not really Americans; we’re just visiting here” – denigrating even nice simplicities as Mothers Day, dafka refusing to acknowledge Memorial Day and other significant secular national days;

    2. An educational system that at the elementary level teaches no civics, at higher levels fails to teach anything about our system of government, or anything positive about anyone outside the Klal, and which excoriates the value of just about all secular education;

    3. Rabbinical leaders educated in that system who, even at the highest levels, possess crude misunderstandings of our legal and political system;

    4. A triumphal belief in our inherent superiority, which denigrates and dismisses the humanity of all others…and makes stealing from “them” “permissible;”

    radrad
    radrad
    6 years ago

    For some strange reason these idiots think they can steal from the gov’t without recourse. What a CHILUL HASHEM, especially when they pose as such pious ppl

    TruthIsIt
    TruthIsIt
    6 years ago

    Too much….What a news to start people speaking Loshen hara….

    sane
    sane
    6 years ago

    The lesson in all this, which appears to be lost on most, is to value living within your means and living humbly. That is the ideal.

    yonasonw
    Member
    yonasonw
    6 years ago

    2 of 2

    5. A stupefying refusal to understand that the values of secular society in which we live are the very reasons we have thrived here, fully enabled to practice our religion while participating in professional life;

    6. An exaggerated “piety” (shared with those on the Christian right) that clothes discrimination in a veneer of false religiosity – freedom of religion morphs into a freedom to discriminate against those one’s religion defines as evil, even in the public market place. (Some Christians believe that Jews are evil…responsible for the murder of their “savior;” by this twisted logic, they should be allowed the “right” to not serve Jews);

    7. A deeply held belief that the entire goyishe world is nothing but “schmutz,” not deserving of any respect;

    8. A refusal of religious and community leadership to admit error or to acknowledge limitations on their “wisdom,” with respect even to issues about which they are completely ignorant. “Reb Moshe had the black box,” I was recently told that allowed him to speak to how law enforcement interviews child abuse victims. That’s my lane…and the velt’s positions on the issue are complete rubbish

    scy4851
    scy4851
    6 years ago

    a Chilul Hashem…Par Excellence!

    AyinRoeh
    AyinRoeh
    6 years ago

    The oilam is reminded to re-read the last paragraph in the news story.

    IWRKNLKWD
    IWRKNLKWD
    6 years ago

    I think what we are missing out on is the fact that these funds are meant for the poor class that cant afford basics. when we take from these funds, and we dont actually need the money – its a worse act, not stealing from rich and giving to poor, on the contrary its the opposite! and thatis why its looked at with such disdain and disgust

    Anon10
    Anon10
    6 years ago

    It’s amazing how all of you holier then thou self hating Jews are sooo worried about the chillul Hashem!! Every one of you have your own skeletons so keep the gestapo style hate to yourselves. Oh and the same government you are so worried about that they allegedly stole from also says innocent until proven guilty

    cbdds
    cbdds
    6 years ago

    I am sure there are exceptions but, in all the “frum’ neighborhoods there is never a car older than 36 months. Is leasing new really cheaper than owning a car between 3 and 10 years old?.
    Cars can easily last and be maintained at low cost to last up to 10 years but it is less impressive to the neighbors.
    I grew up in a yeshiva world and I remember the rebeim cars were all old,
    I apologize in advance to those with older cars (like mine) and those that really have no car for finacial reasons.

    thegreatone
    thegreatone
    6 years ago

    Although i dont agree with posting news like these. It brings out the worse in people as we can all see from the nasty comments. Still the Chilul Hashem is huge.

    Having said, lets not all fall into the trap saying: see its because a lack of secular education and “we” think that laws are not meant for frum Jews”.
    THE biggest crooks and thieves are by THE most intellectual educated Harvard grads. Wall street crooks,bankers,car mfg etc etc are being constantly fined in the billions for ripping off people.

    thegreatone
    thegreatone
    6 years ago

    A while back when some Shomrim member’s got into trouble beating up an African American guy there was an individual who doesn’t deserve his name to be mentioned who wrote a very nasty article in the Daily news or the Post how racist and nasty frum Jews are.How illiterate we are and therefore they beat up a Goy.

    This individual was dancing on this frum shomrim guys blood. He couldn’t get enough of this story. I bet this person will write some nasty disgusting articles about this fraud case.

    6 years ago

    It’s so sad that at least several of these families had special needs children that was obviously a contributory factor to doing the indefensible things they did, and also the large amounts of Medicaid and ssi dollars that they were charged with unlawfully claiming. Not every one of them appears to have been in dire financial straits but at least one of the families that I know of and probably more has been in dire straights financially due do their special needs child. Does not excuse their behavior, just feel sad that they were put into this terrible situation and succumbed morally. I give my blessing to all of the above posters that none of you should unexpectedly have a Down syndrome or handicapped child as at least 3 of these families had and be faced with the huge family pressures and financial burden and the temptation to succumb to the circumstances and do the wrong thing as some if these families did…..

    The_Truth
    Noble Member
    The_Truth
    6 years ago

    So Monday was those who collected illegal benefits in 7 figure range, Wednesday those in 6 figure range… does that mean by Friday they will be targeting those who defrauded the benefits in the 5 figure range?

    Oyvey
    Oyvey
    6 years ago

    שאילתות דרב אחאי פרשת ויחי שאילתא לו

    דמחייבין דבית ישראל למישקל ולמיטרא בהימנותא ואילו מאן דאמר ליה לחבריה מזבננא ליך האי מידי לא בעי ליה למיהדר ביה ואף על גב דאי בעי למיהדר מצי הדר דיבורא בעלמא הוא דא”ל אפילו הכי לא מיתבעי ליה למיהדר בדיבוריה אלא מיבעי ליה למיקם בהימנותא ועליה איתמר הדין קרייא עיני בנאמני ארץ לשבת עמדי מלמד שזוכה ויושב במחיצתו של הקדוש ברוך הוא ולא מיבעייא דאמר ליה מיזבננא האי מידי אלא אפילו גמר בליביה לזבוני ליה אף על גב דלא אפיק מן פומיה לא מיתבעי ליה למיהדר ביה דכתיב הולך תמים ופועל צדק ודובר אמת בלבבו

    Oyvey
    Oyvey
    6 years ago

    Are these people truly Jewish or are they descendants of some who were mixed in?
    (צפניה ג) ‘שארית ישראל לא יעשו עולה ולא ידברו כזב’

    Dr_Nat
    Noble Member
    Dr_Nat
    6 years ago

    You guys can all debate from today till tomorrow about if it’s proper to judge these people etc. etc.

    The fact of the matter is that something was done, and things are still being done that is causing the goyim to despise us. Right now, it may only be the bigoted anti-semites that are speaking up. But I promise you that if things don’t change soon, the circle of haters will grow and grow and eventually go national. Then you can still talk about if it was really geneiva or if the Harvard grads are bigger gonifs or if leases are better than buying old cars.

    The bottom line is that a community of 60,000 people cannot behave as if they are a small minority anymore. Because we are not under the radar anymore and cannot get away with ANYTHING. Even things that are really kosher, but just look bad to the goyim. We have to change and fast.

    Thunk
    Thunk
    6 years ago

    A few points :

    A . I see many comments regarding kolel, some rather well-thought-out however I’m not sure how we got there , Lakewood is not what it used to be the majority don’t sit and learn .the enrollment in BMG is roughly 5K the town has roughly 13 K families do the math yourself. most of those arrested only sat for minimal time in kolel if at all.
    B. as far as Jersey care/medical insurance fraud, you can easily earn 100 K plus and still qualify , it was clearly not meant only for low income families. Hence not much of an issue for any family in kolel, all those arrested had businesses , because they were self-employed they were scrutinized .
    C. As we have seen in the past , an arrest not necessarily means one is guilty all law-enforcement must show is probable cause, the release to the press , which of course is a great chilul hashem, contains many exaggerations and inaccuracies, when the DA claims that someone took $500,000, very possibly can be the charge is that someone underreported his income by $5000, which very well can be reconciled, however the powers to be would rather have an arrest and then drop charges rather then hearing all the details first. this has happened more than once. it’s a matter of politics and career advancement . There are those who claim that The reason often times these charges Are dropped Is proof positive of the ultra-Orthodox clout, The truth must be told very many times these charges have no chance of holding up in court.

    6 years ago

    Here’s the dirty little secret that nobody is acknowledging….frum young couples are in the hole when they walk down the chuppah. They get married young with no employable skills and live in mostly expensive densely populated areas. When they decide to work they already have more than one child and either have to start professional training or enter the job market at a low paying job that makes it very difficult for them to support their families, save money and set themselves up for financial success. (Go Dave Ramsey!)
    Instead these wealthy Rosh Yeshivas and/or parents etc push learning instead of pushing living an ehrliche lifestyle. It just doesn’t fit their agenda!
    I refused to put my adult sons in this precarious position, I love them too much.

    6 years ago

    The ignorance in these comments is unbelievable. Guess what? I’m not Jewish and I was able to create an account to try to understand the Jewish side to this story. This is bigotry at its worst. How would you like it if I owned a gas station and refused YOU service because it’s against my beliefs to serve a vehicle containing women covering their hair? It is the same principle as refusing to bake a cake for a wedding.

    I won’t continue because you can’t reason with ignorant people.

    The paranoia you exhibit about being scrutinized has now become a reality. If I, a goyiem, was able to see your comments in these articles, I’m sure I’m not the only one.

    I will pray for all of you because we are all God’s children.