Charges: Woman with $2 million trust fund deceived state for welfare benefits
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (KMSP) - A 42-year-old Maplewood, Minn. is being charged with stealing from the state for receiving food stamps and medical assistance while she was living off a $2 million trust fund.
Wendy Roberts, 42, applied for state medical assistance in 2011. She did not disclose that she had $2 million trust fund that she was currently receiving benefits from. On the application, she wrote that she was unemployed and her only source of income was unemployment benefits. She claimed to only have $1,516.31 in her bank accounts.
Based on her answers to the questions in the application, she was approved for and began receiving medical assistance benefits. She was also approved for and began to receive food stamp benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Roberts continued to receive food support or medical assistance from the state through February 2015. In total, she received more than $32,000 in benefits.
Roberts is being charged with felonious theft by wrongfully obtaining public assistance, the penalty of which is 10 years in prison or a $20,000 fine or both.