NY Penal Law § 158.25: Welfare fraud in the first degree

Because of the amount of welfare fraud that occurs, law enforcement has focused an increasing amount of resources to identifying and prosecuting those who receive public assistance benefits based on fraud. Welfare fraud is the crime of receiving public assistance benefits based on some type of fraudulent act, such as making false statements on an application for benefits, not reporting the receipt of another type of benefit such as workers compensation, or failing to report income. It is a type of theft. There are five welfare fraud offenses in New York. The specific charge you will face depends on the amount of public assistance benefits you are accused of receiving based on a fraudulent welfare act. Welfare fraud in the first degree is the most serious welfare fraud offense. Under New York Penal Law section 158.25 you could be prosecuted for welfare fraud in the first degree if you:

1. Intentionally committed a fraudulent welfare act, and
2. The value of the benefits received was over $1,000,000

A "fraudulent welfare act" includes presenting an application for a public benefit card knowing that the application contains false information, pretending to be another person in order to obtain public assistance benefits, or making a false statement in order to establish or maintain eligibility for public assistance benefits or in order to increase or prevent the reduction of public assistance benefits.

For purposes of the welfare fraud statute "public assistance benefits" means money, property or services provided from the federal, state or local government and administered by the department of social services or social services districts.

Eddie and his girlfriend Josie developed a scheme in which they applied for various types of public assistance benefits using false names and fraudulent identification. They each received benefits in the names of 10 different people. They were able to carry on the scheme for over 5 years and received well over $1,000,000 in benefits each. Both Eddie and Josie could be prosecuted for welfare fraud in the first degree based on the amount of benefits they received.

1. Welfare fraud in the fifth degree: New York Penal Law section 158.05
2. Welfare fraud in the fourth degree: New York Penal Law section 158.10
3. Welfare fraud in the third degree: New York Penal Law section 158.15
4. Welfare fraud in the second degree: New York Penal Law section 158.20

In order to convict you of welfare fraud in the third degree the prosecutor must be able to prove that you fraudulently received benefits in exceeded $1,000,000. If the prosecutor cannot prove the amount of benefits that you received fraudulently, then the court is likely to dismiss the charge. However, the prosecutor could still charge you with welfare fraud in the second, third, fourth or fifth degree.

As a class B felony, welfare fraud in the first degree is one of the most serious charge that you can face. If you are convicted your sentence may include a prison term of up to 25 years, a probation term of 5 years, and a fine. You will also be required to pay restitution in the amount of benefits that you received fraudulently.

A person is guilty of welfare fraud in the first degree when he or she commits a fraudulent welfare act and thereby takes or obtains public assistance benefits, and when the value of the public assistance benefits exceeds one million dollars.

If you are charged with welfare fraud in the first degree you, it is imperative that you have experienced representation. If you are convicted you could spend over 2 decades in prison. The staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates has years of experience successfully defending clients in New York criminal courts who have been charged with felonies and misdemeanors in violation of New York state law and federal law. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.