New York – A Brooklyn couple with $2 million in the bank and a Land Rover in the driveway illegally collected $59,000 in Medicaid benefits, Brooklyn prosecutors said Tuesday.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Ariel Soudry, 31, and his wife, Joyce, 28, live in a million-dollar home and send their children to private school.
They have rental and condominium developments in Brooklyn and New Jersey, an Audi and a Mercedes – and a real bad attitude.
“Lowlifes – get a real job,” Ariel sniped at photographers as he was taken into court to be arraigned on charges that include grand larceny and welfare fraud.
Prosecutors say that while the Soudrys were living royally, they canceled their own health insurance and pretended they were poor so they could qualify for Medicaid.
“They kept this farce up for four years while they raked in the dough,” Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said.
While the duo was taking taxpayer money, they were buying and selling real estate firms and converting a Brighton Beach condo complex, authorities said.
“Their seven bank accounts swelled to six digits each,” Hynes said. “One even reached $2 million.”
Joyce Soudry wore a gray Boss scarf when she appeared in court with her hubby, who had on a $200 Robert Graham shirt embroidered with the slogan, “Knowledge, wisdom, truth.”
The Midwood couple faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Both were released without bail.
“We deny all charges,” said their lawyer Solomon Anter. “We can’t wait for the truth to come out.”
The Soudrys were among 32 alleged cheats charged with taking nearly $1 million in benefits after a welfare fraud crackdown.
Marlowe Gershenson, 35, was charged with scamming $63,000 over six years while driving a Bentley coupe and a Land Rover and living with a husband who owns wholesale clothing and real estate companies.
Prosectors say Liz Sobeida, 37, collected nearly half a million dollars in benefits for herself and her two children between 2004 and 2009 by claiming to be a single mother – even though her husband worked at a Cadillac dealership.
Also charged was Shawana Kennedy, 33, who allegedly stole $55,000 by changing her name and claiming to be a single mom when her husband is actually a Sanitation Department employee.
“Prosectors say Liz Sobeida, 37, collected nearly half a million dollars in benefits for herself and her two children between 2004 and 2009 by claiming to be a single mother – even though her husband worked at a Cadillac dealership.”
Which govt program gives out 100,000/year? I’m going to give up my job and get that kind of benefits. It doesn’t pay to work??
Also, many of these businesses and assets are controlled by a corporation, and are not legally personal income. My bet is that many of these cases will be simply plead away and no one will really suffer the consequences.
Nice story…. released without bail….??…. for frauding the gov? did i read right? Am I missing something? Rubashkin NOT released even with bail? umm …
This should sicken anyone who works hard for their money. We pay taxes for these ganavim to drive fancy cars? sick! All the scammers who exploit the government programs should STOP! One day it wont be there for those who really need it and that would be a shame. Besides the huge chillul hashem aspect that all these people have 20,000 dollar dinning room sets and bedroom sets and they take money from the government. Rabbanim have to speak up!
“Lowlifes – get a real job,” Ariel sniped at photographers as he was taken into court to be arraigned on charges that include grand larceny and welfare fraud.
What a lowlife! It’s that attitude that gets people into trouble. It’s not like the photogs are paparazzi! They are following REAL news, and thus have a REAL job.
If the government gave them the money, why was it wrong?
love the way he said “lowlifes-get a real job” Wonder what kind of real job it is to Eob ppl’s tax payer money ??!!
Lowlifes – get a real job,” Ariel sniped
A case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Let me jusy say i find it VERY VERY HARD TO BELIEVE that they had that kind of money sitting in accounts in their name. I’d bet the accounts were in other people’s names or funds belonging to other people, in which case there is no fraud.
There is no crime against wearing fancy clothing.
Wait till you know all the facts. Peace.
lav achbera ganev chura ganev
who knows the answer to that aramaic phrase,
& what is the connection to this story?
Assuming the charges are true:
I don’t understand why with that much money they had to be on medicaid. If you’re making really good money (well into the six figures) plus investments and multiple homes, does it really hurt you to buy your own health insurance?
I guess that’s what Shlomo HaMalech meant when he said “Oheiv kesef lo yisba Kesef”.
This, my friends, is what happens when the government runs a health insurance system. Medicare and Medicaid fraud is rampant and costs US (the taxpayers) billions upon billions of dollars. We need more of this? Get real!
What a clear example of antisemitic reporting. Why is the headline and 80% of the story about the Soudrys, who — even IF the allegations are true — got away with only $59K, while Liz Sobeida, who is charged with stealing nearly eight times that much, is given one sentence near the bottom, as is Shawana Kennedy who is charged with stealing nearly as much as the Soudrys?
Out of 32 people charged, the article only mentions 5; three yidden and two goyim, but the goyim are mentioned only after the yidden. Why?
No. 17. You are a Peace of work .
The government should get rid of these entitlements. If there are no programs; then there can be no programs to cheat. Even unemployment insurance can be privatized…
Medicaid cut benefit and reimbursment for patients , Doctors, hospitals , pharmacies and will not stop unless review all medicaid applicanst one by one , old and new , after this reviews , medicaid program will save over half of program
Mediciad need to hire new smart pepolle for this job
And this is why, my friends, I will not become a US citizen. The system stink to high heaven.
For the benefit of the recipients, too many workers in these government agencies are immigrants whose English is very poor. In the past, in dealing with my mothers’ case, we dealt with an American and it was a pleasure to deal with. Now, the new caseworker who we have not only speaks English at a perhaps 40% level and therefore no phonecalls are ever returned, but the handwriting is not in English and we could get away with anything because the caseworker doesn’t literally understand English.
Most of us really could see who is entitled and who is doing something not kosher.
Good Luck too all. Let’s hope the innocent and really needy will not be affected.
people who truly deserve and need this assistance may not get it because of scumbag lowlife creeps like this couple who steal the money intended for others. I hope the shul he belongs to throws him out, head first.
The government has very quietly begun checking FICO information on medicare and welfare recipients. They are looking for mortgage payments, credit card limits, car payments and credit history. If you or anyone you know is receiving any benefits including WIC, let them know about this new enforcement provision before it is too late!