Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
15 charged for defrauding taxpayers more than $250,000 in welfare benefits
More than a dozen Muskingum County residents accused of defrauding federal and state food, childcare, and Medicaid benefits programs are facing the consequences after being indicted by the Muskingum County Grand Jury.
Their charges are a result of a year-long investigation conducted by the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office and Muskingum County Job and Family Services as part of phase two of Operation “Snapped Off”. Offenders caught in this phase of the round-up stole more than a quarter of one million dollars of taxpayer dollars to illegally receive government welfare benefits, for a total of $268,679.95.
Similar offenders were warned to turn themselves in or face felony prosecution last year at the conclusion of the first round of charges when 18 individuals were indicted.
Kylie Kosco, 29, of Zanesville, heeded that warning and voluntarily turned herself in to Muskingum County Job and Family Services for having defrauded over $46,000 in combined SNAP, Medicaid, and childcare benefits. As a result of her voluntary acceptance of responsibility, she guilty Monday to two misdemeanor counts SNAP fraud and Medicaid fraud. She will be required to pay back the amount taken, and will receive a lifetime ban on SNAP benefits, but was spared being arrested and serving jail time. Ms. Kosco’s actions took advantage of the best option presented by the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office to benefits violators: Those who turn themselves in before they are investigated will receive misdemeanor charges and will not be arrested.
Tonia Amonds, age 38, of Zanesville, was investigated and found to have defrauded the SNAP program of more than $20,000. Upon learning of her investigation, Amonds offered to resolve her case and pay back what she owed. On Wednesday, she pleaded guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information, reflecting one count of SNAP fraud, a felony of the fourth degree. She paid back the entire balance she owed at the time of her plea. She will receive community control for one year and accept a lifetime SNAP ban.
Similarly, Ashlee Miles, 38, of Zanesville also reached out to quickly accept responsibility on her case, in which she made off with $46,700 of taxpayer money. Miles will plead guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information reflecting one count of SNAP fraud, a felony of the fourth degree. She will serve five years on probation and pay back restitution.
Amonds’ and Miles’ actions constitute the second path for benefits fraud embraced by the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office: Those who take prompt responsibility after learning of an investigation, and who have a plan to pay back their fraud, will be considered for community control and will not be arrested.
Those who do not embrace either the first or second paths to resolution will be indicted with felony charges, arrested, and punished according to law.
The individuals wanted by the Muskingum County Sheriff to answer for benefits fraud charges after today’s Grand Jury indictments are:
Brandi Little, 38, Philo
• F3 Tampering with Records
• F3 Telecommunications Fraud (x2)
• F4 Medicaid Fraud
• F5 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits
• M1 Petty Theft
Becky Work, 59, Zanesville
• F5 Theft
Donna Schrack, 54, Zanesville
• F5 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits
• F5 Telecommunications Fraud (x2)
Joshua Mullins, 46, Philo
• F4 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits (x2)
• F4 Telecommunications Fraud (x2)
Kimberlee Huff, 29, Zanesville
• F3 Tampering with Records (x7)
• F3 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits
• F3 Telecommunications Fraud (x2)
Teri Poole, 50, Philo
• F4 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits (x2)
• F4 Telecommunications Fraud (x2)
Kimberly Mahon, 33, Zanesville
• F3 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits
• F3 Telecommunications Fraud (x3)
• F4 Medicaid Fraud
Kimberly Zigan, 40, Zanesville
• F4 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits
• F4 Telecommunications Fraud (x2)
• F4 Forgery (x2)
Leanne Denny, 38, Nashport
• F3 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits
• F3 Tampering with Records
• F3 Telecommunications Fraud
• F4 Medicaid Fraud
Meghan Greiner, 34, Philo
• F3 Telecommunications Fraud (x4)
• F3 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits (x2)
• F3 Tampering with Records (x2)
Robert McCort, 26, Adamsville
• F3 Telecommunications Fraud (x10)
• F4 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits
• F4 Grand Theft
Sarah McEntee, 23, Adamsville
• F3 Telecommunications Fraud (x10)
• F4 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits
• F4 Grand Theft
Stacara Viney, 25, Zanesville
• F3 Illegal Use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or WIC Program Benefits
• F3 Tampering with Records (x3)
• F4 Telecommunications Fraud (x6)
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