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Friday, July 25, 2014

Grand Jury Indicts Three Individuals with Welfare Fraud; One Impersonated a Law Enforcement Officer

MAYS LANDING – Atlantic County Grand Juries indicted three defendants today for separate and independently committed acts of welfare fraud, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced today.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit and the Atlantic County Department of Family & Community Development—Division of Fraud Investigations successfully conducted three separate investigations over a period of 18 months, that led to the indictments this month of all three defendants for collecting welfare benefits to which they were not entitled.

Shannin M. Harrell, 32, of the 500 block of North Indiana Avenue, Atlantic City, was indicted for one count of theft by deception—a third degree crime. The State alleges that Harrell collected $15,751.00 in Food Stamp benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Temporary Rental Assistance (TAR), from the Atlantic County Department of Family & Community Development by falsifying reports of employment income.
Evonda Valentine, 47, of the 800 block of North Maryland Avenue, Atlantic City, was indicted for one count of theft by deception—a third degree crime. The State alleges that Valentine collected $18,756 in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Food Stamp benefits from the Atlantic County Department of Family & Community Development by claiming as dependents children who did not reside with her.
Zainab B. Malik, 40, of the 800 block of East Wood Street, Vineland, was indicted for one (1) count of theft by deception and four (4) counts of displaying documents that falsely purported to be identification issued by a governmental agency—all 3rd degree crimes. Malik was also indicted for impersonation of a law enforcement officer—a 4th degree crime.
The State alleges that Malik collected $72,784.00 over a four-year period in Emergency Assistance, Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), bus passes, and child care services. It is alleged that Malik presented a false birth certificate and social security cards, and claimed to be attending a technical school at which she was not registered, to obtain the benefits fraudulently. The State further alleges that Malik impersonated an FBI agent on the telephone during the investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
A crime of the 3rd degree carries a potential sentence of three to five years of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison. A 4th degree crime carries a potential sentence of imprisonment not to exceed 18 months.
Assistant Prosecutor John Flammer represented the State in all three cases.
Welfare Fraud can be anonymously reported to the Atlantic County Department of Family & Community Development—Fraud Investigation Unit by calling the 24-hour Fraud Hotline at: 1-800-FRAUD05 (1-800-372-8305).
These indictments are merely accusations and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, an indicted defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.

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