NY lottery winner charged with welfare fraud

Apr 13, 2012, 4:37 pm (118 comments)

New York Lottery

ALBION, N.Y. — Apparently one New York resident thinks getting $1,000 a week for life is not enough, and the taxpayers should give him more.

A western New York lottery winner has been accused of improperly receiving more than $4,000 in public assistance.

The Orleans County sheriff's office says 51-year-old Anthony Palermo of Albion began receiving $1,000 a week in 1998 after winning the "Win for Life" scratch-off lottery game. Police said Thursday that Palermo applied for and began receiving Medicaid and heating assistance benefits last fall.

Palermo was charged with welfare fraud, grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing. He was released on his own recognizance and will be arraigned Tuesday.

It could not be determined Friday morning if Palermo had a lawyer.

AP

Comments

Nikkicute's avatarNikkicute

What is up with him that $1000 every week was not enough?

A lot of things have gone up in prices since 1998 but still, $1000 a week should have covered it no?

I can't wait to hear his excuse, does he have two houses like the other welfare fraud lottery winner?

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

No he didn't !!!!!! Shame on you Mr. Palermo No No there are people that really needed this assistance but can't get it because of people like you....

CARBOB

Quote: Originally posted by dallascowboyfan on Apr 13, 2012

No he didn't !!!!!! Shame on you Mr. Palermo No No there are people that really needed this assistance but can't get it because of people like you....

The problem is, they have no shame. There are millions of them out there, abusing the system.

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Quote: Originally posted by CARBOB on Apr 13, 2012

The problem is, they have no shame. There are millions of them out there, abusing the system.

I Agree! And yet they won't send them to prison where they belong.

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

OUTSTANDING taxpayer !!!!  Fine example of a human being !!!.....How much is enough ?.....Time for some crowbar pajamas !!!

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by Cletu$2 on Apr 13, 2012

I Agree! And yet they won't send them to prison where they belong.

"offering a false instrument for filing."

Some Win for Life games payoff in quarterly payments while others are annual. He probably borrowed against his future payments, ran out of money, got a part time job, and used that for a record of earnings to get assistance. He probably hoped they would never find yearly lottery income.

I doubt he'll go to prison, but he can say goodbye to Medicaid and the heating assistance and will be ordered to make restitution.

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by Nikkicute on Apr 13, 2012

What is up with him that $1000 every week was not enough?

A lot of things have gone up in prices since 1998 but still, $1000 a week should have covered it no?

I can't wait to hear his excuse, does he have two houses like the other welfare fraud lottery winner?

We only hear about it when a lottery winner is defrauding the welfare system, but for everyone of those, there are probably thousands of others doing the same thing. Is it just me or has anyone else see many people getting 5 cases or more of soft drinks and paying for it with a Red, White, and Blue EBT card?

tntea's avatartntea

He should have to pay back all that he has received for assistance.. or forfeit his weekly lottery checks and continue with the assistance.

sully16's avatarsully16

Anyone who wants to see the epitome of welfare fraud come spend the day at work with me, just today we had a fine young man buy 9 cases of REDBULL, At 35 dollars a case plus 2.40 in deposits per case which the tax payers shell out for that comes to $336.60, He did buy food, Famous Amos cookies, beef jerky, Hot pockets and the ever popular pop tarts, and yes I hope the Beef Jerky falls on the floor and the dog eats it. Oh he's wheeling 283, so anyone in Michigan who feels lucky you can play his number also, couldn't tell you what his mega- million numbers are.

The guy in this story needs to go to prison.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Apr 13, 2012

Anyone who wants to see the epitome of welfare fraud come spend the day at work with me, just today we had a fine young man buy 9 cases of REDBULL, At 35 dollars a case plus 2.40 in deposits per case which the tax payers shell out for that comes to $336.60, He did buy food, Famous Amos cookies, beef jerky, Hot pockets and the ever popular pop tarts, and yes I hope the Beef Jerky falls on the floor and the dog eats it. Oh he's wheeling 283, so anyone in Michigan who feels lucky you can play his number also, couldn't tell you what his mega- million numbers are.

The guy in this story needs to go to prison.

i agree he needs to go to prison, but won't that cost us even more ?

seems like they defy solutions.

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Apr 13, 2012

i agree he needs to go to prison, but won't that cost us even more ?

seems like they defy solutions.

Yep your right, but just maybe it will send a message that this fraud will not be tolerated, nothing like losing your freedom. Silly me, we are losing our freedom and dingbats like him will continue to vote for the scum thats taking it away from us.

temptustoo's avatartemptustoo

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Apr 13, 2012

Yep your right, but just maybe it will send a message that this fraud will not be tolerated, nothing like losing your freedom. Silly me, we are losing our freedom and dingbats like him will continue to vote for the scum thats taking it away from us.

just say O bama....

maximumfun's avatarmaximumfun

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Apr 13, 2012

Anyone who wants to see the epitome of welfare fraud come spend the day at work with me, just today we had a fine young man buy 9 cases of REDBULL, At 35 dollars a case plus 2.40 in deposits per case which the tax payers shell out for that comes to $336.60, He did buy food, Famous Amos cookies, beef jerky, Hot pockets and the ever popular pop tarts, and yes I hope the Beef Jerky falls on the floor and the dog eats it. Oh he's wheeling 283, so anyone in Michigan who feels lucky you can play his number also, couldn't tell you what his mega- million numbers are.

The guy in this story needs to go to prison.

wow.  That is alot of crap-tastic nutritionally-black-hole-certified food.  And he got to do that on the taxpayers dime.  Amazing.

... well except for the poptarts... (heh heh heh)

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

ohh dear oh dear, are we REALLY going to go there and speak for the TAXPAYERS?? Here let me run this down for all those that gripe, your hard earned money that gets taxed goes more towards bombs, ammo and securing our overseas allies then your ten cents chipped over to welfare or the likes. More of your tax dollars go towards Defense buying ( military tanks can run in the contracted millions!) and researching whether the great elm has a disease then the guy who bought redbull.

I care more about how we toss educational programs to the side and think that keeping illegal aliens helps the restaurant industry and the farming industry at a minimum cost.  Stop chasing the nickel and dimers and start thinking about where your REAL TAX money is spent on...it is NOT to the people...

(done rant)

As for this NY guy, he needs a reality check written out to him instead of a lottery proceeds each year.

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