A Hollis Hills woman has admitted to stealing thousands of dollars in welfare benefits that she obtained through concealing her husband’s six-figure income.
Galit Levi, 37, pleaded guilty on June 26 to welfare fraud in the fifth degree. Concurrent with her plea, Levi paid the New York City Human Resources Administration a $67,000 restitution and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
“The defendant’s audacious abuse of the welfare system to unlawfully enhance her lifestyle has earned her a criminal conviction,” said Acting Welfare Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott. ” I will continue to use all of the resources at my disposal and work tirelessly with my law enforcement partners to protect public funds meant for those in the most need of financial assistance.”
An investigation by Inspector General Leahy Scott found that between 2012 and 2015, Levi had repeatedly filed documents that falsified her household income, which totaled between $200,000 and nearly $225,000, while applying and later re-certifying for taxpayer-funded health care benefits meant to help those in need of financial assistance. Levi stole more than $67,000 in total from the Medicaid system during this time.
The investigation also found that Levi’s applications for Medicaid payments included false information regarding her living situation, claiming that she lived with her husband and four children in a one-bedroom basement apartment with total household expenses amounting to $650 a month. Levi also concealed that during the time period involved, she owned a rental income property in Flushing.
During this time, Levi was married to Assaf Moshe, also known Joe Levi, the co-owner of Kings Development Group LLC, a real estate development and holdings company that was indicted last year for defrauding and stealing homes from multiple homeowners throughout the city, particularly targeting the sick and elderly who were in financial distress.
Moshe was one of 11 people and two companies who was indicted for their roles in the alleged scheme. Levi was not criminally implicated as a part of the real estate theft scheme.
“In pleading guilty, the defendant has admitted to stealing funds from the Medicaid system — a program intended to help those who are truly in need,” said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “The defendant has agreed to this conditional plea and has repaid the funds in full.”
