Suburban couple who scammed state aid programs avoid jail

[TexasTowelie]

A Whitefish Bay couple who collected nearly $100,000 in state food and health care benefits while one of them earned a six-figure salary and their stylish home was featured in the newspaper, avoided jail Wednesday after pleading guilty to public assistance fraud.

Todd Schaller and Mary Carini-Gallagher, both 52, were charged last year with multiple felonies, accused of conspiring to obtain some $115,000 in food share and health care benefits over several years by not informing the state about Schaller's income or the fact they lived in the same household.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Conen suspended 12-month jail sentences for both defendants, meaning they could serve time if they fail terms of probation.

Conen said he didn't really expect either defendant to reoffend, but stressed that the public perception of their crime — of a family living in a nice neighborhood scamming the help intended for the truly needy — "just fuels the fire" of critics who would cut such benefits to everyone.

Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/suburban-couple-who-scammed-state-aid-programs-avoid-jail-b99761227z1-386679051.html

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Sad there was no jail time. But if it were a black person

stealing a loaf of bread, there would be.