Right in Our Own Backyard
However, it is more discerning to find this kind of scam right in our own backyard. Yesterday the Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes announced the indictment of eight New Yorkers for Medicaid fraud. This scheme included receiving payments of Medicaid benefits and food stamps--taking in thousands of dollars.
According to the DA many of these defendants lied about their addresses and incomes as well as their living situations to be considered eligible. The defendants are scattered across the city and have collected more than $500,000 in government benefits. The DA says that the fraud had been going on since approximately early 2001.
One of the biggest offenders is business owner Mohammed Irshad Chaundry who collected more than $146,000 in Medicaid benefits from January of 2004 till November of 2011. The owner of an Auto Repair shop in Long Island City as well as a tea shop in Tribeca, Chaundry deceived the government by telling them he only made $300 weekly as a ``helper`` in both aforementioned businesses--when he was really raking in $8,000 a month and shopping at Brooks Brothers...all on the government`s dime.
Let this be a lesson to all of the would-be schemers out there. Just because it hasn`t caught up to you yet, doesn`t mean it won`t. Uncle Sam is watching folks. If you see or know of Medicaid/Medicare fraud it is your duty and responsibility to report it www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/. After all that`s your money they`re abusing.