Probation, Jail Time On Welfare Fraud
Mary Jane Rico
WARSAW — Mary J. Rico, 50, 7534 N. SR 13, North Webster, was sentenced Monday, Feb. 8, after she plead guilty to welfare fraud. She will spend the first year of her sentence on probation, followed by 1 1/2 years in jail. Her jail time will begin Feb. 9, 2017.
Rico has been ordered to pay $52,891 in restitution to Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The amount includes penalties.
Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Pro-tem Duane Huffer stated “what a web we weave, when we deceive,” to Rico before issuing the sentence. Rico apologized to the court for her actions.
Rico applied for unemployment compensation benefits in Bremen after reporting she had been laid off from her place of employment. Rico began receiving benefits of $390 per week around Jan. 12, 2008.
On Jan. 31, 2010, Rico reported to the department she had moved to Milford, where she continued to file for and receive benefits sporadically until Oct. 5, 2013.
Monica Portillo, fraud investigator for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, inspected payroll records relative to Rico on Dec. 17, 2015. Weekly earnings were noted from four businesses corresponding to the weeks unemployment benefits were received.
Of the 105 weeks Rico received government assistance, 81 of those weeks Rico was in fact drawing wages from an employer as well.
Rico amassed a total of $27,670 misappropriated funds.
