Angela LopezCOLONIE, N.Y. - A Colonie mother of five has accepted a plea deal Wednesday in connection to allegations she stole nearly $100,000 in welfare benefits from Albany County taxpayers.
37-year-old Angela Lopez, the so-called "wealthy welfare mom" from Colonie, was found in December 2010 to have ripped off the system of nearly $100,000 when she received welfare while she allegedly brought in a paycheck and disability benefits.
Over a period of five years, Lopez received disability, food stamps, and Medicaid assistance for herself, her husband, and their five children. At the same time she worked as a nurse's aide, never reporting that income.
Lopez took a plea deal in Albany County Court on Wednesday morning for one felony charge of welfare fraud and one felony charge of grand larceny.
She will be sentenced on July 8th to 2-6 years in state prison and must pay $65,699 in restitution to the Department of Social Services and $29,697.88 in restitution to the Social Security Administration.
"We are very aware that Ms. Lopez is not the only person engaging in fraud against Albany County," commented DA Soares. "The Financial Crimes Unit of the District Attorney's Office in partnership with the Department of Social Services will continue to aggressively pursue these cases to stop our tax dollars from being exploited. For those of you who are currently collecting benefits you are not entitled to, that knock on your door is forthcoming."
News10 has head that, despite her arrest, Lopez is still collecting benefits from the Albany County Department of Social Services.
Anya Tucker is investigating this story, and will have more later today.
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