Four Allegheny County Residents Sentenced for Welfare Fraud

Four Allegheny County residents were among nearly two dozen Pennsylvania residents recently sentenced for welfare fraud, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General.

Shelarise L. Bray, 44, of McKeesport, pleaded guilty to receiving more than $3,800 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) reported in a news release. Bray was sentenced to two year probation and ordered to pay full restitution, court costs and fees. She was deemed ineligible to receive SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months, the OIG said.

Careema L. Cogdell, 30, of Pittsburgh, was sentenced for receiving more than $1,300 in cash assistance benefits, according to the inspector general. She pleaded nolo contendere. Cogdell was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay restitution, court costs and fees. She was disqualified from receiving cash assistance benefits for a period of six months.

Charles Shriver, 43, of Homestead, pleaded guilty to receiving more than $1,850 in fraudulent SNAP benefits, the OIG said. He was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay restitution, court costs and fees. Shriver was also disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 12 months.

The last of four Allegheny residents sentenced for welfare fraud was Raymond, Thomas, 56, of Pittsburgh.

Thomas pleaded guilty to receiving more than $2,750 in fraudulent SNAP benefits and sentenced to 18 months probation and ordered to pay restitution and court costs and fees.

Thomas had been disqualified once before in 1993, the inspector general said. As a result, he was disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for a period of 24 months. A third conviction of welfare fraud would result in permanent disqualification.

None of the other 16 residents were from Allegheny County.

Click here to read the entire news release and list from the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General.