Every day people around the country receive financial assistance from the government or insurance companies to meet their day-to-day needs. When a person continues to collect benefits when they are no longer eligible to, or they make false statements when applying for benefits, that person is committing fraud. The state of Florida is very aggressive in seeking the return of money fraudulently paid as well as criminal convictions for those involved. The attorneys here at Taracks & Associates have successfully defended clients charged with Welfare Fraud in the Tampa Bay area.
Florida Statute §414.39 governs Welfare Fraud. This statute makes it a crime for anyone to fail to disclose a material fact used in making a determination as to such person's qualification to receive public assistance under any state or federally funded assistance program, or to fail to disclose a change in circumstances in order to continue receiving public assistance to which they would not be entitled. If the value of the benefits wrongly received is of an aggregate value of $200 or more in a 12 month period, then the person commits a felony of the third degree punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
If you have been arrested for Welfare Fraud in the Tampa Bay area, or have been contacted by the Florida Department of Financial Services regarding information you have, or have not, provided it is important that you hire an experienced Welfare Fraud criminal defense attorney.
Some sure signs that you are being investigated include:
1. Being contacted by the Department of Public Assistance or an agency that issued you benefits;
2. Having a representative from a government agency come to your home to question you about benefits you received;
3. Receiving notice in the mail that you are being investigated or requesting documents be submitted in the mail.
Here at Taracks & Associates we have dozens of years of experience handling Welfare Fraud cases in the Tampa Bay area and have been successful in helping clients avoid criminal convictions. We know how important it is to you and your family that you keep your name clear and, in some cases, be permitted to keep receiving benefits for your children. Contact Taracks & Associates today for your free, confidential consultation.