Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on September 30, 2009, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, LYNN ANN GARDIPEE, a 36-year-old resident of Yellowstone County, appeared for sentencing. GARDIPEE was sentenced to a term of:

• Probation: 5 years, with 6 months home arrest

• Special Assessment: $100

• Restitution: $34,578

GARDIPEE was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to federal welfare assistance fraud.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

From October of 2001 to December 27, 2007, GARDIPEE received overpayments of $13,465 in food stamps, $1,546 in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF) funds, and over $19,567 in Medicaid payments to which she was not entitled and would not have received if she had been truthful about her income and circumstances.

U.S. Attorney Bill Mercer prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General.

 

 

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