FLORIDA - OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL - REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS OF POSSIBLE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FRAUD CASES - JANUARY 1, 1977 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1977

• NCJ Number: 64675
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 66 pages
• Corporate Author: Florida Office of the Auditor General
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A NARRATIVE REPORT AND STATISTICAL DATA ARE PRESENTED ON FLORIDA'S 1977 INVESTIGATIONS INTO FRAUD AND ABUSE OF THE AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN (AFDC) PROGRAM, THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM, AND MEDICAID.

Abstract

INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITY OF THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL FOCUSED ON ABUSES IN THESE PROGRAMS RELATIVE TO RECIPIENTS, EMPLOYEES ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAMS, AND VENDORS PROVIDING SERVICES TO RECIPIENTS. A TOTAL OF 14,537 CASES WERE ASSIGNED, UNDER REVIEW, OR ACTIVELY INVESTIGATED DURING THE REPORT PERIOD. THE 10,305 ASSIGNMENTS COMPLETED DURING 1977 PRODUCED 2,454 REFERRALS TO THE APPROPRIATE STATE ATTORNEY FOR A DECISION AS TO PROSECUTION. INVESTIGATIONS WERE MADE INTO THE TRAFFICKING OF FOOD STAMPS, PAYMENTS MADE TO RECIPIENTS OF THE AFDC PROGRAM, AND POSSIBLE ILLEGAL SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO NURSING HOMES FROM RELATIVES OR GUARDIANS OF MEDICAID PROGRAM NURSING HOME PATIENTS. STATE ATTORNEYS TOOK ACTION RELATIVE TO 2,353 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE REPORT PERIOD BASED ON EVIDENTIAL MATERIAL REVEALED IN THE INVESTIGATIONS; APPROXIMATELY 90 PERCENT OF THE REFERRALS RESULTED IN THE FILMING OF CRIMINAL CHARGES. TRIAL COURT ACTION WAS TAKEN ON 1,685 DEFENDANTS CHARGED BY THE STATE; 91 PERCENT OF THESE DEFENDANTS HAD BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY THE END OF THE REPORT PERIOD. RESULTS OF A REVIEW OF THE AFDC PROGRAM COMPLETED ON JUNE 30, 1977, WERE PROJECTED OVER THE ENTIRE REVIEW MONTH (OCTOBER 1976) REVEALING THAT 6,368 OF THE 78,717 FAMILIES RECEIVING WELFARE PAYMENTS DURING THE MONTH PROBABLY RECEIVED THEM THROUGH FRAUDULENT PRACTICES. SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO FOOD STAMP TRAFFICKING IN JACKSONVILLE AND ST. PETERSBURG RESULTED IN THE ARREST OR ISSUANCE OF ARREST WARRANTS FOR 87 PEOPLE. AS A RESULT OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE POSSIBLE ABUSES OF 30 SELECTED NURSING HOMES, STATE ATTORNEYS FILED CHARGES AGAINST 7 OF THE HOMES. THE NUMEROUS APPENDIXES PRESENT A SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITY, A CLASSIFICATION AND SUMMARIES OF CASES REFERRED TO STATE ATTORNEYS, SUMMARIES OF STATE ATTORNEY AND COURT ACTIONS, THE STATUS OF CASES REFERRED TO ATTORNEYS, SUMMARIES OF SENTENCES IMPOSED, AND AN OUTLINE OF JAIL SENTENCES RECEIVED. (WJR)