hello,
in mid May i was contacted by an investigator from the welfare dept. i went in to see her and basically, i am being charged with about $5000.00 in foodstamp fraud (2005-2007). i have 3 daughters, someone evidently reported them not really living with me, therefore they opened a case on it. I have proof from daycare showing that they lived with me for the whole year of 2005. so that should knock off a little lump sum for that year. the year of 2006, my daughters were living with me and my mother (my mother lives out of town) since she didnt have custody or even power of atty. for them i continued recieving food stamps under my name..sending her some also. i even kept getting their medicaid under my name and Always mailed her those cards. i recently (here in sept.) got arrested for this little did i know i had a felony warrant out for my arrest before even going to court. (I was told it was sent straight to the grand jury) So, i really havent been convicted for this yet, i guess just indicted. the only trouble that i have been in before was in july 2005-theft over $50 but under $500 (something like that) any way i was put on deffered judfication for this then being young and dumb lacked to complete my 20 hrs of community service so therefore it stayed on my records. Anyhow, last year was my oldest daughters 1st year in school, yes, i was still getting food stamps then cut them off and finally just quit. I need to know what i'm facing? i am really scared because when the jailer looked this up for me he said im facing state jail. Is that so? also, would it be wiser to pay a lawyer rather than get a court appointed atty.?
