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.
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?
No he didn't !!!!!! Shame on you Mr. Palermo
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.
OUTSTANDING taxpayer !!!! Fine example of a human being !!!.....How much is enough ?.....Time for some crowbar pajamas !!!
"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.
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?
He should have to pay back all that he has received for assistance.. or forfeit his weekly lottery checks and continue with the assistance.
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.
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....
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)
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.
Our military deserves every nickel they get and should get more.
The teachers union scammers should be cut off and the welfare scammers should be locked up and the extra money given to the military.
I concur. Our military deserves the pay it receives. I suppose I could have written my post more clearly. Our welfare system is broken. There is not a time when we should be giving unrestricted $$$ to those who have been declared by some moving-target formula - as needy. If they are needy for food/nutrition, then give them food through the local food bank or excess food from farmers, or food that has a short shelf-life remaining. If they are needy for housing, then give the money directly to those who house them.
Should those 'on the dole' desire more freedom to spend (arguably) their money, then get education (provided through low-cost/no-cost government programs) and get a better job, more pay, work harder, work smarter.
Those who have gone through the system would be perfect resources AFTER getting out of it, to be on a 'non-compensated' task-force to help fix it (as part of the 'pay-back' for having been in the system).
As far as this 'gentleman's' lottery win? Too bad there is not something in the lottery by-laws that allows the winner to forfeit should they scam the government.
Roger that, max.
55 million people on welfare, thats over 3 and a half BILLION A YEAR
If you can afford lottery, beer, cigarettes you don't need me to feed you.
If you can afford private school, ballet lessons, karate lessons, music lessons, you don't need me to feed your kids.
The military, believe it or not, is there to keep people from killing us, oh yes, remember the guys who flew planes into our buildings ?
Redbull guy is not a nickle and dimer, not when he threw down over 400 dollars on crap. Besides, he has no intention of drinking that much redbull, he'll sell it , running an illegal business on tax payer dollars, he's not the only one.
That is not okay, it will never be okay.
Welfare is for the most desperate, not for thieves who have found a way at easy money at the expense of people who work their asses off, and have nothing to show for it, because the tax man took it and gave it to someone else.
you have the patience of a saint,
don't know how you tolerate seeing this stuff.
keep on keepin on and good luck.
Thanks Haymaker, I am running out of patience, We got people running catering businesses with their food stamps, people who plop their young kids outside to sell the candy they bought, drug addicts who give their food stamps to gas station or party store owners. The fraud is endless and it's not okay because the government is wasting money elsewhere, they shouldn't be wasting any of our money anywhere.
Well said, sully.
Graft and corruption don't bother the left at all.
It's their lifeblood. It's expected. It's demanded.
They love the crooks because they are the crooks.
And they hate our military with a passion.
he should do what the rest of them do; if you want to defraud and rip off the public. run for public office legitimately.
A lottery operated by the State. An individual applying for and receiving State benefits (and potentially Federal money too). So, how difficult could it possibly be to put in place a database of major winners for cross-referencing on things like welfare, child support, unpaid criminal fines, etc.? I know some states are just coming on board with this in particular relating to child support, but after all, this is the 21st Century, right? How technologically forward thinking and backward moving can a society be?
Shame on you Tony and HIGH FIVE^ to law enforcement.
Side note ;If your milking the system don't play the lottery ,
Jake .....Most of the heavily populated states that I am aware of already have this in place if you win....I know here in FL if you have any outstanding debt to be paid that is court affiliated/taxes, its taken before you collect a dime.....My question is if this system is already in place when you collect then why isn't the reverse in place when you go to ask for assistance............... Maybe N.Y. isn't up to date yet.
What difference does it make how many cases of soft drinks a person buys with THEIR EBT BENEFITS. Nobody tells you how to spend your money when you are grocery shopping... I am so tired of hearing people harp on folks because they receive food stamps. Somebody had to help your ass at one time. All in all I think it is just jealousy because their asses make too much to receive government assistance. I know I probably will get a lot of back lash for this comment but who cares! Bring it on Troll!!
Teacher unions don't get any money for the union from the taxpayers. It is member supported. A teacher's salary is what comes from local and state government and is based upon their criteria. So if a teacher wants to support the union, they pay their dues every month out of their paycheck.
A lot of the food banks here are in dire straights. They are giving at their max capacity and sometimes it is still not enough. I think if there were more jobs, then so many wouldn't be on public assistance. People who lost jobs during the past 3 years are still not completely back. We need industries that can compete with the garbage that China is dumping in America. Welfare cheats are bad but SSI cheaters are the worse of the lot. I know whole families drawing SSI.
Try,,,,,, While I understand your point about the right of choice, there is one area in your 2nd sentence that does create a major opposition to your point of view......"Nobody tells you how to spend your money when you are grocery shopping"........The difference being is I have earned the money and it is all mine to spend it as how I see fit. It was not a benefit from other taxpayers that is set up purposely to purchase quality, necessary food items.....
People aren't harping about the needy receiving of food stamps. They are complaining about the food stamps being used to purchase items that aren't necessary to exist. Thus the complaints about, "how many cases of soft drinks a person buys". Because soft drinks aren't a necessity. They never have been nor will they ever be.
"All in all I think it is just jealousy because their asses make too much to receive government assistance".....Its not a jealousy issue, its a valid complaint that purchasing unnecessary items for general living is NOT what the program was designed for...........
This article was written about a sneak trying to cheat the system because he was being a greedy individual, instead of someone who actually needed the help.
I agree about SSI. I became ill in 1987 & applied for disability. I worked until 2008 & stopped working because my employer said that I should stop. I started SSDI in 2009 & did not need a lawyer to get it. The cheaters make me angry because I worked until I could not go anymore!
911 told me exactly what our government was doing when it didn't close the borders at all during and after the attack. Their goal is obviously to keep growing the government no matter what and at all cost. And they want us to fight amoungst ourselves over things like this. This guy never should have gotten through the paper work to be able to collect any sort of services after his winnings(i would think). And the fact that he did is a problem with the people running the system more so then this guy here. We know these types of people exist by the millions. And we shouldn't have to deal with the rollar coaster of emotions over this because of the people who created the system yet don't want to regulate it.
Time to come out from under that rock you must live under, Littleoldlady.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/union_classic_le_en_jrQKCmKdjWQbMAtzqHASxI
1,000 per week = 52,000 per year... less approximation for taxes of 40% = 31,200...
that really isnt THAT much...
so mayhap he did not want to WORK any longer and was looking for more 'free' money to augment the 2,400-3,000 he was clearing each month (depending on either a 4 or 5 week month)
too bad he did not consider the 1k/week to be 'get over' money and simply keep his job...
the guy was getting 1k a week and still needed handouts. please dont tell me this guy quit his job or stoped working cause he thought he was set for life. that 1k a week was suppose to make life a bit easier for him not give him the right to rip off the tax payers. wish his winnings would go to paying back what he stole.
Wouldn't throwing them in prison cost even more money than they're already losing? And our prisons are overcrowded as it is... hardened criminals being turned out into the streets because the government insists upon locking up non-violent pot smokers...
We need to keep all them non-violent, peace-freak, tree-huggin', pothead-pansies in jail where they belong.
They need to learn about law and order!
Chain-Gang Style!
Yeah, Boss!
I said LAW and AWDUH! You heah me, boy?
Yessuh, Boss!
Dam hippies.
Pot smokers are breaking the law.Don't like the law?Change it.Until then,do your time.
It's obvious there is no point in explaining to you why people get EBT benefits and who is paying for those benefits.
"Nobody tells you how to spend your money when you are grocery shopping."
Because I give the clerk cash or my debit/credit card using the money I EARNED. I even bought a cell phone and pay for using it from my EARNINGS unlike the free cell phones and free minutes our taxes are paying for.
"Somebody had to help your ass at one time."
That "somebody" certainly wasn't the tax payers, though I was asked if I wanted to buy cases of soft drinks at a greatly reduced price from "somebody" who bought them using their EBT card.
"All in all I think it is just jealousy because their asses make too much to receive government assistance."
You apparently don't think at all if you find no problem with people getting assistance when they "make too much to receive government assistance". Which part of "Palermo was charged with welfare fraud, grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing" don't you understand?
"Bring it on Troll!!"
You're probably just upset because your state lottery doesn't accept EBT cards as payment for lottery tickets.
I did not know people are using their EBT cards to buy pot and other illegal drugs too. And I here I thought buying 9 cases of soft drinks and/or Red Bull was suspect.
The article didn't indicate if this NY Lottery annual annuity collector has any dependants currently. That information would help to understand his "annual expenses" situation better. And knowing if a job layoff situation is involved.
52k a year, is equal to... just over $1 mill in the bank at %5. now if only you could get %5 at a bank, its prob closer to $2 mill at your current bank rates.
What is Red Bull?
A very expensive energy drink in a little tiny can.
While it's true the article doesn't say how many dependents he has, it does say "Palermo was charged with welfare fraud, grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing". With enough dependents it's possible with a yearly gross income of $52,000, he could still get some assistance, but if he had enough depndents, they wouldn't have filed charges.
The North Koreans launching a rocket into space.
What is unnecessary items? They can buy 20 cases of soda if they want to. If you like something you're going to buy a lot of it. The program was designed to help people in need. Just because you like to eat a lot of something doesn't mean you're not in need. When I was young we received benefits and we would take a one dollar food stamp(That's all you needed back then) and buy snacks after school. I come from New Orleans and Po' boys are a famous New Orleans sandwich. You were able to buy cold Po' boys with food stamps. A cold Po' boy sandwich is made with any kind of deli meat. You were able to buy seafood too.
You can always work in a department store since you get angry whenever someone buys stuff you don't want them to buy with their benefits.
Britney Spears' oxygen.
Acutally We'll just keep working to have food stamps taken away from the people who commit fraud, an continue to have welfare eradicated from our state all together.
Really Simba ?? Buying 20 cases of soda isn't unnecessary ? REALLY ??...come awwwn, do you seriously consider SODA and SEAFOOD a necessity for daily living? Would you mind showing me on any food value chart where soda falls into a necessity? I am open minded about health and if you can seriously show me that soda is a necessary daily item, then I will be more than happy to adjust my way of approaching consumption of that product. You actually believe people should be using their food stamp money for soda because" they want to" ?? Wow, that is one unique way of making sure health and nutrition is served at a meal. Guess I was raised with a different set of values for necessity for food consumption......oh well...such is life.
Granted the story we're talking about is example of someone getting caught committing welfare fraud where criminal charges were filed, but there are thousands of other examples seen everyday that probably are lesser examples of why the system is being abused. If and when the system is eradicated because of widespread abuse, it won't be the fault of those us who have noticed it.
CD, Most of these people have no clue that the rest of us are working and going without, Now theres a story about a guy who used his ebt cash to post bond, in Michigan gas stations are allowing ebt and many of our recipients receive food and cash, which means we are paying for gas, cigarettes, lottery, the restaurants are pushing for ebt, so they can cash in as well, on the backs of taxpayers.
And yes, it's everyone business to know what welfare people are buying and they know it, the store owners, the cashiers, the guy standing in line has a right to know what ebt is being used for, thats how fraud is detected and anyone has the right to turn them in.
If you want you shopping habits to remain private..GET A JOB
If you want steak, shrimp, lobster...Get a job
If you want a gas guzzling Escalade...GET A JOB
They are supposed to be using this money and benefits to take care of their children, not sell the food so they can go to bingo, the casino, get their hair or finger nails done, buy jewelry, new purses or ipods.
These people fail to realize they are not capable of taking care of themselves or their kids, the rest of us are doing that, so what they do with our money most certainly is our business.
These fraudsters are complicit in the theft of American taxpayers.
I am getting ready for work right now, I'll spend the whole day watching the fraud unfold, I'll be working my ass off so some lazy oaf can buy all the chips, cookies and treats they can haul away in their expensive SUVS.
Worse yet, not one person on welfare will ask for an application, instead they will want to know where the Hot Pockets are.
As you can see, sully, and well know, you might as well talk to a wall as someone who has grown up on welfare and food stamps.
They come to think of it as a right.
"I'm hongry - who's gonna feed me? Somebody feed me!"
It's now a generational thing where whole families have lived their whole lives scamming the system and being supported by working people and they get an attitude if we dare question it or complain about it.
Am I the only one that has every had this experience, I'm at the store handing my coupons to a cashier and I get an attitude from the person behind me with two carts over flowing and paying with EBT? One chick had the nerve to mumble to her daughter "dam I could just paid her s&i*t so she can go" Yeah, that didn't go over to well
with me. At one of the stores I shop at on any given day you would normally find 2/3 young men standing at the enterence offering EBT grocery for cash. Someone ,who will remain nameless, called the police and DCF and got rid of that nonsense.
This country needs more honest people like you, missy.
We all see the scammers but most people just look the other way because the scammers are arrogant and always have big attitudes and big mouths and you can't blame people for not wanting to deal with them.
It's good there are people around like you and that "nameless" person
who refuse to put up with it.
Thank you for doing the right thing.
" At one of the stores I shop at on any given day you would normally find 2/3 young men standing at the enterence offering EBT grocery for cash" WTF!!!! OMG not only would I have called the police I would have called the local news station to exspose the system.... WOW!!! I have read it all!!!!
Good for you missy.....
If you ever win a lottery jackpot you won't have to go shopping to see scammers, they'll be knocking at your door and calling you on the phone. In fact if you stick your e-mail address in your profile, you'll start getting e-mail from them with all kinds of sob stories. They are every where.
Can never have enough Scammers, that's my motto!
Little,
People have no clue until they walk in the shoe.
Those fees we pay are to protect us from the people we are serving.
Many of times I have heard parents tell "teachers" "We tax payers pay your salary." Fact is the school teachers are paying their own salaries too.. Since we pay taxes too!
Problem here is that the benefits "are taxpayers' money"..
If a person doesn't work, how is it "their" money?
If they need to be fed... buy healthy foods, so the taxpayers do not have to foot the medical bills that will occur from eating poorly. If you receive EBT benefits, you should be buying healthy foods..(You can now afford that.)
Soft drinks, chips, candies, etc. shouldn't be bought with food stamps. If they put a stop to that, more people will get off their ass and get a job.
A great little drink..
No, it's not unnecessary because people love soda! Wow, people love soda, candy, pizza, seafood, coffee and cake. If if you love it you're going to eat it. Yes, I do. Not everyone just buys soda. They also buy water and juice. No one should not buy soda because you don't think they should. When people get the card they can buy whatever they like to eat and drink.
Because they don't buy what you want to them buy they're committing fraud? Okay.
You buy whatever it is you like to eat and drink.
I know people who sale stamps. I have no problem with it.
Actually the benefits are called entitlements by the recipients and if we keep on "giving", there is no reason for them to look for a job.
why do you play a game with odds equal to being struck by lightning and eastern by a bear in the same hour? because you enjoy it right. I'm pretty sure that if you looked you would notice the looks you get from customers behind you for playing the lottery. the majority of America agrees that the lottery is a fools game.why do these people waist their money on a game with terrible odds they say.i,'m sure if someone asked you to stop waisting your money on the lottery you would tell them to mind their business right,well what people on public assistance buy w/ their money is their business.agree? now I'm not saying your a hypocrite.but your comments suggest different.just some food for thought.
why do you play a game with odds equal to being struck by lightning and eaten by a bear in the same hour? because you enjoy it right. I'm pretty sure that if you looked you would notice the looks you get from customers behind you for playing the lottery. the majority of America agrees that the lottery is a fools game.why do these people waist their money on a game with terrible odds they say.i,'m sure if someone asked you to stop waisting your money on the lottery you would tell them to mind their business right,well what people on public assistance buy w/ their money is their business.agree? now I'm not saying your a hypocrite.but your comments suggest different.just some food for thought.
Another stupid liberal that probably lives from welfare check to welfare check.The only question is who is drawing the check,him or his girlfriend.
The ppl. in line behind me wish i would get out of the way so they could do the same foolish thing faster,
but i'm doing the "fool thing" w/ money i worked for, and thats what makes it a fool thing,
but, ppl. on public assistance buy? tickets w/ "THEIR MONEY" (came from taxpayers)
is he gonna split the win w/ me, don't think so.
OK, so who is the real fool ?