I-Team: Grand Jury Indicts Rhode Island Man For Welfare Fraud

BOSTON (CBS) - A Bristol County grand jury has indicted a Rhode Island man who is accused of ripping off Massachusetts taxpayers and illegally collecting welfare benefits while living out of state.

Paul Hession, 45, faces charges for larceny, making a false statement for medical assistance, and public assistance fraud.

In April, Hession was arraigned on similar charges in Attleboro District Court and left the building in handcuffs.

But the grand jury indictment brings more serious charges that will be heard in Bristol County Superior Court and could result in prison time.

Last year, an I-Team investigation uncovered documents showing Paul Hession had been living in Rhode Island for several years while continuing to collect public assistance in the Commonwealth.

The case was later referred to the Bureau of Special Investigations in the Office of the State Auditor. Investigators believe Hession collected almost $54,000 in taxpayer-funded benefits from MassHealth and the Department of Transitional Assistance over a three-year period.

Attleboro resident Stephen Gainer started receiving mail addressed to Hession in November 2014. Gainer had owned the home for seven years.

Despite several calls to the Fraud Hotline, Gainer claimed the suspicious mail kept showing up at his house. That is when Gainer decided to contact the I-Team.

Hession will be arraigned in Fall River on July 29.

Ryan Kath can be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.