Press Release

Wasilla woman convicted and sentenced for Welfare Fraud

May 8, 2013

On May 3, 2013, 46 year old Janice Haynes, of Wasilla, Alaska was convicted on a charge of attempted second-degree theft, a Class A Misdemeanor, related to fraudulent application and receipt of Public Assistance benefits she was not entitled to receive. As part of a plea agreement, the charge was reduced from second-degree theft, a Class C felony. District Court Judge John W. Wolfe sentenced Haynes to 180 days jail with all 180 days suspended during a probation period of one year. In addition, Haynes must complete 60 hours of community work service by February 3, 2014. Restitution in the amount of $8,593.15 was paid in full at the sentencing to the Department of Public Assistance. As a result of this conviction, Haynes is disqualified from participating in the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP) for a period of six months and the Food Stamp Program for 12 months.

The conviction and the sentence stem from an investigation conducted by the State of Alaska, Division of Public Assistance (DPA) Fraud Investigation Unit. The investigation revealed that while she was receiving Food Stamp and Medicaid benefits from February 2010 through May 2010, Haynes failed to truthfully declare unemployment insurance benefits both she and her husband were receiving, which resulted in an overpayment of Public Assistance benefits. In determining eligibility and benefit level for Food Stamp and Medicaid applicants, the Division of Public Assistance is required to consider who lives in the household and available income and resources of all adult household members.

If you have information regarding public assistance fraud, please contact the public assistance fraud tip line in the Matanuska-Susitna valley at 1-800-478-7778 or email fraud_allegations@alaska.gov.

CONTACT: Assistant Attorney General Devoron Hill at (907) 269-0366 or devoron.hill@alaska.gov.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.