7 couples from same town charged with public benefits fraud

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (AP) — Seven married couples from the same New Jersey shore town, including a rabbi and his wife, now face charges that they misrepresented their income to get a combined $2 million in public welfare benefits they weren't entitled to.

Three couples were arrested late Tuesday in Lakewood after four couples, including Rabbi Zalmen Sorotzkin, of Congregation Lutzk, and his wife, Tzipporah, were arrested Monday.

The three couples — Yitzchock and Sora Kanarek; Chaim and Liatt Ehrman; and William and Faigy Friedman — were released without bail after appearing through video conference in state court Wednesday. It wasn't immediately clear if they had attorneys who could comment on their behalf.

Prosecutors say the three couples misrepresented their income and then collected more than $674,000 in benefits. They say the couples failed to disclose income from numerous sources on applications for Medicaid, housing, Social Security and food assistance benefits.

Read more: http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/national/couples-from-same-town-charged-with-public-benefits-fraud/article_588bc0d2-6eaf-5d70-b97c-226f48e1fb4b.html