Allen County Job and Family Services officials say eight fraud cases have been sent to court since the end of 2024 involving false information used to obtain public assistance benefits.
The cases resulted in more than $160,000 in overpayments, and officials say more investigations are ongoing.
Allen County Job and Family Services (JFS) is recognizing May as Public Assistance Fraud Awareness Month with a clear message to the community: “Fraud Costs All of Us.”
The Allen County Department of Job and Family Services is working to crack down on welfare fraud in the county. The department has sent several cases to the Allen County Prosecutor's Office for prosecution. On Tuesday, Kathyrn Kimbrough waived her right to a trial by making a plea to theft of receiving temporary assistance for needy families benefits that she was not entitled to for eight years. Kimbrough says it was a misunderstanding of filling out forms when she applied for assistance. Job and Family Services says she didn't report that her son, the father of the grandchildren she was getting support for, was living with them. They say that is fraud, and they had to take action.
