A Colonie woman is set to serve 2 to 6 years in state prison and pay Albany County and the Social Security Administration a combined total of $95,396.88.
Angela Lopez, 37, pled guilty to one count of welfare fraud in the second degree, a class C felony and one county of Grand Larceny in the third degree, a class D felony, according to a press release from Albany County District Attorney David Soares. Her sentencing date is set for Friday,July 8.
Between May 2005 and April 2009, Lopez did not report income she received under the table while still receiving Medicaid assistance and food stamps, totaling to $65,699 from the Albany County Department of Social Services. Also while not reporting her income and withholding information regarding property owned by her family, Lopez received $29,697.88 in SSI benefits.
Soares is using this case as a warning for anyone else that might be committing similar crimes, and said that it won’t be long until they are caught.
We are very aware that Ms. Lopez is not the only person engaging in fraud against Albany County, Soares said in the press release. `The Financial Crimes Unit of the District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Department of Social Services will continue to aggressively pursue these cases to stop our tax dollars from being exploited. For those of you who are currently collecting benefits you are not entitled to, that knock on your door is forthcoming.“