OC INDICTMENTS FOR UNLAWFULLY RECEIVING BENEFITS

Ocean County Prosecutor, Joseph D. Coronato announced that an Ocean County Grand Jury handed up indictments yesterday (12/3) on two separate cases referred to the Prosecutor’s Office and jointly invested with the New Jersey State Comptroller’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Division and with assistance from the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

In the First Matter Peter Cerruto, 38 and his wife Lisa Cerutto, 33 of Barnegat were indicted on charges of Theft by deception, Medicaid Fraud, Tampering with Government records, Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns and Failure to Pay Tax. It is alleged that the Cerutto’s provided false information on their applications for New Jersey Family Care, a Medicaid program and received benefits totaling approximately $69,000.00 between February 2010 and July 2013. The tax counts cover the tax years of 2010-2013. The general nature of the allegations is that income was understated in both the Medicaid and tax matters. All counts of the indictment were in the third degree and the defendants face up to five years in State Prison

Also indicted in a separate case were Yosaf Laskin, 43 and his wife Gila Neger , 41of Lakewood. Mr. Laskin was indicted for Theft by deception, Medicaid Fraud and Tampering with Government Records. It is alleged that he provided false information in his applications for New Jersey Family Care and received benefits of approximately $148,000.00 between November 2010 and July 2013. Ms. Neger was indicted for Theft by Deception and Tampering with Government Records. It is alleged that she filed a false application for food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrional Assistance Program and received approximately $8,000.00 in benefits. Both Laskin and Neger were also indicted for filing fraudulent tax returns for the tax years of 2010 and 2011. The general nature of the allegations is that income was understated in the Medicaid, SNAP and tax matters. Mr. Laskin faces up to 10 years in State prison on the charge of Theft by Deception in the second degree. The remaining counts are all third degree charges and the defendants face up to five years in prison.

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