Another Indictment for Heating Assistance Fraud in New Jersey
Attorney General Paula Dow (center) and Criminal Justice Director Stephen Taylor (left) have indicted another heating assistance administrator for fraud. (image: nj.com)
In what’s becoming a familiar story, a local administrator of New Jersey’s Home Energy Assistance (HEA) program has been indicted for filing fraudulent applications to get benefits for herself and others. Denise Johnson was indicted on Wednesday, reported NewJerseyNewsroom.com, and follows in the footsteps of fellow HEA administrators Nicole Victor (indicted in May) and Constance Campbell (sentenced to five years in prison on July 19).
In a statement released by the Office of the Attorney General, New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow said the latest indictment is the result of a lengthy investigation into corruption in the energy assistance program:
“This is the fourth case that we have filed in the last twelve months as a result of our ongoing investigations into fraud against the New Jersey Home Energy Assistance Program,” said Attorney General Dow. “By vigorously investigating and prosecuting these cases, we are working to prevent misappropriation of taxpayer dollars and ensure that program funds are used to heat the homes of vulnerable residents who are rightful beneficiaries of the program.”
The fourth case that Dow mentioned was that of Thomas Harris, a fuel supplier involved in the frauds perpetrated or allegedly perpetrated by the three HEA administrators. As the sole proprietor of Harris Fuel Oil, Harris offered cash for heating assistance checks instead of fuel. Harris would pay out in cash less than the value of the assistance checks, and has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding the state of nearly $400,000.
Johnson allegedly stole $22,905 in assistance funds for her own benefit, and assisted her boyfriend, Anthony Lamont Taylor, and her half-brother, Vincent Lipsey, in filing false applications and receiving $2,648 each in program funds.
The latest indictment may not be the last. According to State Criminal Justice Director Stephen Taylor, investigations are still in progress:
Through the exemplary work of our investigators and attorneys, we are continuing to follow the evidence and build strong cases charging fraud against this program.
As New Jersey continues to investigate fraud within the HEA program, low-income New Jersey residents stand to benefit as more of the program’s funds go to their rightful recipients.
