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<p>HARRISBURG, Pa. &#8211; Nearly 70 individuals were charged with welfare fraud charges between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31.</p><p>Of those charged, two were from Luzerne County.</p><p>The Office of Inspector General announced the charges on Tuesday, and said they will generate a total of $420,018.93 in restitution paid to the state, as well as additional cost savings as the defendants will be temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits in the programs they defrauded.</p><p>&#8220;These cases range from a low of $1,040 in fraudulently obtained SNAP benefits to a high of $58,891.50 in fraudulently obtained SNAP and medical assistance benefits,&#8221; Inspector General Bruce R. Beemer said in a news release. &#8220;The OIG is committed to pursuing welfare fraud in all its forms.&#8221;</p><p>The OIG filed five criminal cases of fraudulently receiving public assistance in Pennsylvania that were graded as a misdemeanor of the second degree, 28 criminal cases of fraudulently receiving public assistance, and 35 criminal cases of fraudulently receiving public assistance graded as a felony of the third degree.</p><p>Those charged in Luzerne County include:</p><p>&#8226; Gail B. Snyder, 57, of Wilkes Barre, for $1,105 in SNAP fraud.</p><p>&#8226; Mandchoue Clerfond, 40, of Wilkes Barre, for $1,785 in SNAP fraud.</p><p>To report suspected fraud please call the Welfare Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582 or visit the OIG website at www.oig.pa.us. Tipsters may remain anonymous.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Inspector general files welfare fraud charges against 68 people in January