Twelve people have been arrested in Tallahassee for their involvement in public assistance fraud, with the total amount exceeding $806,000. According to the Florida Department of Financial Services, the arrests were made after an investigation by the department's Criminal Investigations Division.

Public Assistance Fraud Investigation

The investigation, which took place in May, uncovered $487,728 in fraud tied to the arrests, with an additional $318,895 uncovered through administrative cases. The largest individual case involved more than $221,000 in fraud tied to SNAP and Medicaid benefits.

Key Facts

• Location: Tallahassee, Florida
• Number of Arrests: 12
• Total Fraud Amount: over $806,000
• Investigating Agency: Florida Department of Financial Services
• Charges: Public assistance fraud
• Penalties: Benefit disqualifications, including 12-month, 24-month, or permanent disqualification from receiving SNAP benefits

If you think you can scheme your way into profiting off of public assistance benefits, think again.

• Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia

Ongoing Efforts to Combat Fraud

The Florida Department of Financial Services will continue to hold offenders accountable and protect taxpayer-funded programs. The department's efforts to combat public assistance fraud are ongoing, with a focus on identifying and prosecuting those who attempt to exploit these programs.

Future Actions

As the investigation is ongoing, it is expected that more arrests may be made, and additional penalties may be imposed on those found guilty of public assistance fraud. The state will continue to review cases and take administrative action against individuals found to have committed fraud, including disqualifying them from receiving benefits.