Valley couple facing fraud charges

WASILLA — A couple fleeced the state out of tens of thousands of dollars in public assistance by selectively declaring their income, authorities said.

The couple claimed only to have made about $49,000 in income from December 2011 to December 2015, when in reality $219,161.09 was allegedly deposited in their accounts over that same four-year period, according to a criminal complaint filed in Palmer Superior Court June 11.

Sarah Shoemaker, 29, and Bill Vinson, 37, both of Palmer, face a combined 15 counts of unsworn falsification and a single count of first-degree theft in the Palmer Superior Court, according to charging documents. Shoemaker also faces an additional count of third-degree forgery, court records show.

When Shoemaker and Vinson filled out their initial applications with the Alaska Division of Public Assistance, they each stated they had no bank accounts, according to charging documents. Subsequent investigation by state officials, including an inspection of bank records, showed the couple maintained nine accounts over the course of the alleged fraud, and that Vinson failed to report income from a self-employed business he operated, according to a complaint written by Dean Rogers with the Department of Health and Social Services Fraud Control unit.

During subsequent interviews, part of the recertification process with DPA officials, Shoemaker repeated assertions that the family was eligible for benefits, according to the affidavit.

“Review of the DPA records found no instance of the Defendants (Shoemaker and Vinson) declaring complete, true and correct income and financial account information as required,” Rogers wrote.

At a May 4 interview, Shoemaker admitted incorrectly reporting income, according to Rogers’ account.

In all, investigators claim the pair received $42,483 from three state programs for which they were ineligible: $21,575 from the state’s food stamps program; $15,754 from the state-administered, federally funded Alaska Temporary Assistance Program, which provides limited cash support for those in need of assistance; and $5,154 from the Alaska Child Care assistance program.

Shoemaker’s forgery charge comes from a form reportedly signed by a local medical professional on March 2, 2012. When investigators checked with the medical professional, investigators were told Shoemaker was a patient in 2011 and 2012, but that clinic records showed Shoemaker wasn’t seen on the form’s listed date, Rogers wrote. Shoemaker wasn’t treated until after the form was handed into authorities, and the signature appeared to be an electronic copy, Rogers wrote.

First-degree theft is a class B felony crime, with a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 upon conviction.

Unsworn falsification and third-degree forgery are class A misdemeanors, with a potential maximum sentence of one year in jail and $10,000 upon conviction.

A grand jury indictment — which can sometimes result in modification to the listed charges — had not yet been issued in the case. Vinson is to be arraigned in Palmer on July 7 at 9 a.m. and Shoemaker on July 14 at 9 a.m. Neither Shoemaker nor Vinson was in state custody, according to Department of Corrections records.

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.