CHILD CARE PROVIDER CHARGED WITH THEFT & PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FRAUD

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that a criminal information has been filed in Baltimore County Circuit Court charging Erica Patrice Whiting of Bexhill Road in Baltimore County, with the crimes of Felony Theft of money from the State of Maryland and Public Assistance Fraud. It is alleged in the charges that from about November 1, 2002 until August 14, 2003, Erica Whiting, age 35, fraudulently obtained approximately $8,866.00 from the Purchase of Care Program administered by the Baltimore County Department of Social Services, by falsely representing that she provided child care for two children when, in fact, she did not.

While a criminal information or charge is merely an accusation of wrongdoing and every individual is presumed innocent unless the State proves the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, if convicted, the maximum penalty for felony theft is 15 years, a $1,000 fine or both. The maximum penalty, if convicted of Public Assistance Fraud, is three years, a $25,000 fine, or both.

This case was investigated by Office of the Attorney General, Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Human Resources. The case will be prosecuted by the Criminal Investigations Division.

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