Lakewood couple accused of scamming Medicaid, food stamp benefits
A Lakewood man and wife accused of lying about their finances to get Medicaid benefits and food stamps face charges filed in Ocean County.
Yosaf Laskin, 43, and Gila Feiga Neger, 42, were arrested this morning at their South Lake Shore Drive home. He faces a second-degree count of theft by deception. She is charged with a third-degree theft by deception count, according to information from the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato.
Second-degree charges carry prison sentences of five to 10 years, and fines up to $150,000, on conviction. Third-degree counts are punishable by prison terms of three to five years, and fines up to $15,000, on conviction.
Investigators from the County and the New Jersey State Comptroller's Office allege that Laskin and his family fraudulently collected Medicaid benefits valued at more than $145,000, based on misinformation on his applications.
Gila Neger is suspected of gleaning more than $5,500 in food stamp assistance through inaccurate income data on her applications.
Superior Court Judge Wendel Daniels set Laskin's bail at $75,000 and Feiga Neger's bail at $5,000, neither with an option for release on payment of 10 percent.