Medford Woman Indicted For Fraudulently Collecting Benefits

A Medford woman has been indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury for allegedly fraudulently collecting more than $161,000 in state and federal benefits, according to a press release from the state Attorney General's office posted on their website.

Stacie Coviello-Hickey, 41, faces charges of larceny over $250 (two counts), false representations to procure welfare (three counts) and false representations related to the Division of Medical Assistance. In addition her husband, Ronald Hickey, 43, of Medford, was indicted for two counts of aiding and abetting larceny over $250.

“We allege that this defendant, with the help of her husband, fraudulently collected tens of thousands of dollars in state and federal benefits,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said in the release. “These benefits are intended to assist those truly in need, and schemes that defraud taxpayer dollars undermine the integrity of the system.”

The state claims Coviello-Hickey received benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, MassHealth and the Supplemental Security Income Disability in a fraudulent manner between 2005 and December 2011.

According to authorities, Coviello-Hickey is alleged to have collected $111,000 in MassHealth health insurance benefits and nearly $9,500 in Supplement Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as “food stamps," for herself, her son and her step-son.

The state also said she allegedly collected over $40,770 from the Social Security Income (SSI) Disability program from the federal government.

"Authorities allege that she fraudulently collected these benefits by concealing the fact that she had been residing with Hickey, that he was gainfully employed with a salary in excess of $80,000, and had health insurance which, if elected, would cover his entire family," according to the AG's office.

They added that Hickey allegedly "took steps to further the scheme and conceal it from authorities" including that the couple "allegedly obtained a falsified rental agreement in an attempt to show that they were not living together and cover-up the fraud" after being confronted by investigators.

The investigation started after the matter was referred by the State Auditor’s Office.

The couple were indicted Thursday. The AG's office said they will next appear in Suffolk Superior Court May 23.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt; rather, it means a grand jury has found sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.