Pennsylvania's Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) filed felony charges against 52 people for public assistance fraud during May 2023, according to a news release Thursday.
They owe a total of $347,497 in restitution to the state.
The defendants will be temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits in the programs they are accused of defrauding.
Those charged reportedly misrepresented themselves and fraudulently received taxpayer-funded public benefits to which they were not entitled. They face up to seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000 if convicted.
Suspected welfare fraud can be anonymously reported by using the OSIG website or calling the Welfare Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582.