Maine woman pleads guilty to SNAP, MaineCare, Social Security fraud
A Lewiston woman pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to charges she collected more than $20,000 in SNAP, MaineCare and Social Security benefits she was not entitled to.
Sherry Awadjie claimed to be disabled and said she was not earning any income, according to federal prosecutors.
From November 2015 until May 2017, Awadjie collected $3,492 in SNAP benefits, $1,654 in MaineCare benefits and $15,072 in Social Security benefits.
Federal prosecutors said Awadjie was employed during that time and failed to disclose her employment income on reports she was required to submit to receive benefits.
She also concealed her employment by arranging with her employer to be paid "under the table" and later, under the name of another person, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the money she earned from her job would have made her ineligible to receive benefits.
Awadjie faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced.