Story by Elle. Staff Writer.
Ocean County officials arrested three married couples accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in Medicaid and other government-aid fraud. Each household resides in Lakewood.
Family Charge Dates Total Stolen
Chaim Ehrman, 40
Liatt Ehrman, 39 Second-Degree Theft by Deception January 2011- December 2015 ~ $185,690
William Friedman, 45
Faigy Friedman, 40 Second-Degree Theft by Deception January 2011- December 2015 ~ $149,840
Yitzchock Kanarken, 33
Sora Kanarken, 39 Second-Degree Theft by Deception January 2009- July 2014 ~ $339,000
These arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation of several families in the Lakewood area. The defendants allegedly defrauded the government of money though Medicaid, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), Housing for Urban Development (HUD), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits, and Sandy relief benefits. By lying about their income, the families received thousands of dollars in aid they not only did not need, but could have gone to truly deserving people.
The defendants will appear soon before Judge James Blaney.
All persons are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Tags: Ocean County, Fraud
Photo: Courtesy of Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office
