Hynes announces indictment of attorney for collecting benefits while working
Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes and NYC Human Resources Administration Commissioner Robert Doar on Wednesday announced the indictment of Lesley Ann Lawson, 37, for collecting Medicaid, food stamps, and unemployment insurance benefits, while working as a contract attorney.
She is indicted on charges including Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree, Welfare Fraud in the Fifth Degree, Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and others. She could face up to seven years in prison.
“It is important to make sure that those who need help are able to receive government benefits to help them survive. Thousands of individuals in NYC rely on assistance such as welfare, rental assistance, cash assistance, unemployment benefits, Medicaid and food stamps. To these individuals, it is the difference between having a place to live, having food on their tables, and having clothes on their backs,” said Hynes.