Investigators say a 32-year-old Racine woman is facing felony fraud charges because she lied about whether or not her partner lived with her while she collected state aid for child care, food stamps and medical care.
Joanna Stinson was charged Tuesday in Racine County Circuit Court with one felony count each of food stamp fraud, public assistance fraud, and failure to notify the state about a change in her circumstances. If convicted, she faces up to 26 years in prison and/or up to $60,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint, the Department of Workforce Development received an anonymous tip in March 2012 that Stinson lied to the state about the father of her children living with her. Specifically, Stinson signed state aid applications on at least six different dates that indicated she lived alone with her two children when the father of her children was also a resident in the home.
Investigators say Stinson was overpaid the following:
- Food Share: $13,165 from January 2009 through May 2012
- Medical Assistance: 8,503 from January 2010 through April 2012
- Child Care: $31,689 from August 2009 through February 2012
Because the father of Stinson’s children was living with her during these time periods, she was not eligible to receive the benefits she was awarded, the complaint reads.
The complaint against Stinson was filed on July 1, and she was ordered to appear Tuesday. She was assigned a $1,000 signature bond and will next be in court July 30 for her preliminary hearing.