Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the arrest of a Queens couple on federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud relating to the theft of $112,707 in state and federal benefits involving three separate public benefit programs. DOI investigated this matter in collaboration with the United States Postal Inspection Service’s New York Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, which is prosecuting the case.
SEAD SELIMOVIC, 52, and his wife, MIRELA SELIMOVIC, 46, both of Bellerose, Queens, are each charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The SELIMOVICS were presented today before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and they were each released on a $50,000 bond.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “As charged, these defendants schemed to illegally obtain public benefits, painting a false picture of their finances to claim that they were eligible and in need when, in fact, they owned numerous properties and had substantial income. I thank our federal partners, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, for their dedication in exposing the misuse of public benefits and preserving critical public funds.”
Inspector in Charge of the New York Division Daniel B. Brubaker said, “This case highlights the Selimovics’ greed, who gamed the system and stole not just from the government, but from those who are truly in need. Their alleged actions took benefits directly from programs designed to assist those who are trying to make ends meet in an already tough economy. Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners will never tolerate this behavior and will work tirelessly to bring criminals to justice who harm the American public.”
According to the complaint, between approximately February 2017 and January 2023, SEAD and MIRELA SELIMOVIC conspired with others, to knowingly submit applications through the United States mail for three separate public benefits programs, repeatedly providing false information in support of their applications including, understating their family income, falsely stating they each had only one residence, and falsely stating that their primary residence was a rental, among other false information.
The Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption (“DHE”) program is a New York State program that allows local governments, including New York City, to reduce the property taxes paid by qualifying persons with disabilities — that is, those who have documented evidence of their disability and meet certain income limitations and other requirements relating to their legal residence and income.
The federal government administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”), which subsidizes low-income households and enables them to achieve a more nutritious diet by increasing their food purchasing power. The New York State Medicaid program is a federal and state health care program providing benefits to individuals and families who meet specified financial and other eligibility requirements. For both the SNAP and Medicaid programs, beneficiaries are required to submit annual documentation supporting their eligibility.
According to the complaint, this investigation found that the defendants filed DHE applications and repeatedly understated their family income level, falsely stating, among other things, that they each had only one residence. In fact, the defendants owned numerous rental properties in New York and Pennsylvania from which they received just over $575,000 between 2017 and 2022. In addition, SEAD SELIMOVIC repeatedly falsely stated in SNAP benefits’ applications that his primary residence was a rental, when in fact he and MIRELA SELIMOVIC owned their residence, underreported his income, and failed to report his wife as a member of his household. SEAD SELIMOVIC also applied for Medicaid benefits and in that context made repeated false statements, including with respect to his income and the income of other members of his household.
In connection with this fraudulent scheme, between about February 2017 and January 2023, the defendants received approximately $40,707 in DHE benefits, approximately $51,091 in SNAP benefits, and approximately $20,909 in Medicaid benefits to which they were not entitled.
DOI Commissioner Strauber thanked Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and his staff for the prosecution of this matter, which is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Chand Edwards-Balfour. Commissioner Strauber also thanked Daniel Brubaker, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge of the New York Office, and his staff, especially Postal Inspector Joseph Marcus, for their partnership on this investigation.
A complaint is an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
No comments:
Post a Comment