This is not the first nor even third time a Russian immigrant was caught scamming Medicare/welfare etc.. on SI. Indeed not even the fourth of other ethnic backgrounds as well. The results are always the same however; no prison time, just fines and some restitution.
A woman was caught last year scamming SSA on SI for a large sum of money. She was ordered to pay back a portion of what she stole, was given probation and is *STILL* entitled to her SSA benefits.
As for Russian immigrants and various welfare/Medicaid fraud, it is sadly far to common. Parts of Brooklyn such as Brighton Beach and other areas have the highest numbers of physicians, nurses and others in the medical community blocked from participating in Medicaid/Medicare because of fraud.
It almost seems they arrive on USA soil hard wired to work the system. Last year a Russian immigrant husband and wife newly arrived in some western state (Washington?) were arrested for running a fencing operation of shoplifted goods. They or those they paid would steal cosmetics, toiletries, etc... from places like Walmart. The pair would then sell the items on eBay or elsewhere. After their arrest it turned up because of their immigrant status they were getting welfare. In an odd twist IIRC they were charged with failing to report the income from their sales while getting welfare along with other charges.
A Fraud Ring and the “Russian Mind-Set” : The New Yorker
Six residents at luxury Brighton Beach condo complex busted for Medicaid fraud | New York Post
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