DCF Worker Jailed In Million-Dollar Ripoff
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - If you've ever wondered why your taxes are so high, consider the story of former DCF caseworker Meera Gokool Kahn, who in her 9 years on the job found so many ways to rip off the system, she cost the state over $1 million. Thursday, the state announced she was headed to prison.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle said Kahn had a host of ways to rip people off using her position and access to state records, and she pleaded guilty to the schemes.
"Khan's criminal behavior is the ultimate act of betrayal," said Rundle.
During he time on the job, prosecutors said Kahn used the identities of people she new to create food stamp benefit accounts that sent the food stamps to her for her own illegal use. When that wasn't enough, prosecutors said she conspired with crooked businesses to turn the stamps into cash, and joined the businesses in pocketing the profits.
Turning to medicaid ripoffs, the state said she would collect "insurance premiums", "processing fees", "application fees", "renewal fees" or "filing fees" for the processing and receipt of State of Florida Medicaid program benefits.
Over time, prosecutors said she cost taxpayers about $1,3 million.
For pleading guilty to charges including Racketeering, Grand Theft, and Public Assistance fraud, Kahn was sentenced to 6 years in prison, 5 years probation, a $3 thousand bill from the state to pay for prosecution, and restitution of almost $300 thousand.
