Mary Jane Rico, 50, of 5219 E. CR 500N, Leesburg, was arrested Saturday night for welfare fraud after receiving at least $27,000 in unemployment funds.
Rico received the funds between January 2008 and October 2013, according to the affidavit of probable cause provided by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor. The base fraudulent over-payment is $27,670, penalties are $25,221 and the total is $52,891, according to the affidavit.
Rico applied for Unemployment Compensation Benefits in Bremen in January 2008 after reporting that she had been laid off from her job. She began getting weekly payments of $390.
After Rico moved to Milford in January 2010, she continued filing through various months until October 2013. Rico had worked at multiple companies during the time she was claiming unemployment. She falsely certified that she was unemployed when she was actually drawing wages from the employers during the same period of time, the affidavit states.
Rico was required to follow all Indiana Department of Workforce Development weekly procedures, including turning in vouchers proving that she remained unemployed and was eligible for benefits.
On Dec. 17, 2013, IDWD investigator Monica Portillo found that Rico had been employed multiple times during the periods she drew unemployment. Companies she worked for include Gulf Stream Development, Copperfield LLC, Shells Inc., CSR Acquisition LLC (Peoplelink), JC Manufacturing Inc., Varsity Garcia Inc. and Wal-Mart Associates LLC. Her weekly earning were certified by her employers.
The months she filed for are Jan. 12, 2008 to May 17, 2008; Aug. 23, 2008 to Oct. 18, 2008; Nov. 29, 2008, to Jan. 3, 2009; Feb. 7, 2009 to April 17, 2010; Oct. 2, 2010 to Nov. 19, 2011; Dec. 24, 2011 to Jan. 21, 2012; Aug. 18, 2012 to Sept. 29, 2012; Dec. 29, 2012; Jan. 12, 2013 to Feb. 26, 2013; and Aug. 24, 2013 to Oct. 5, 2013.
Rico is being held on a $4,000 bond at Kosciusko County Jail.
(Story By The Times Union)
