No Jail And Reduced Fines For A Woman Charged With Welfare Fraud

Not long ago, Indianapolis criminal defense attorney Sean Hessler represented a 35-year-old woman, charged with three counts of welfare fraud after obtaining unemployment insurance benefits, when she was actually working. If convicted, she faced a possible sentence of between two and eight years in prison and reimbursement of over $50,000 in funds she received and penalties assessed. Worried about these potential outcomes, she retained attorney Sean Hessler to handle the process.

After attorney Hessler went over the evidence against his client, it was clear there were several accounting discrepancies. During negotiations, we leveraged these findings to waive all of the fees and we were able to resolve the situation with the client pleading guilty to one count of fraud and agreeing to repay about $10,000, which was the amount of the benefits she received. The plea agreement also resulted in a two-year probation period; however, once the recompense is made, the felony welfare fraud charge will reduce to a misdemeanor and her term of probation will end, freeing her of any further legal worry.

The outcome of an individual case depends on a variety of factors unique to that case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any similar or future case.