6 More Jews Arrested In Mushrooming Lakewood Benefits Scam

(Photo: Courtesy Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office) Image by Courtesy Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office)

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Image by Courtesy Ocean County Prosecutor's Office

Six more arrests have been made in connection with a sprawling welfare scheme in Lakewood, according to the Asbury Park Press. These follows eight prior arrests that had been made earlier in the week.

“This is just the beginning,” said a law enforcement agent close to the investigation.

Those arrested Tuesday were Yitzchok and Sora Kanarek, Chaim and Liatt Ehrman, and William and Faigy Friedman. According to the report:

“The Kanareks wrongfully collected $339,002.56 in Medicaid, nutrition assistance, Social Security and federal housing funds, according to the prosecutor’s office. The Ehrman’s brought in $185,692.22 in improper Medicaid, nutrition assistance, utilities assistance and Sandy relief funds and the Friedmans bilked $149,842.28 in Medicaid, food, energy and housing funds, according to the prosecutor’s office.”

The six new arrests are accused of underreporting their incomes over a period of several years to collect public-assistance benefits they weren’t entitled to receive.

Contact Jesse Bernstein at [email protected] or on Twitter @__jbernstein