Couple Indicted In Medicaid Fraud Worth $146K

An Ocean County couple have been indicted on charges of theft by deception, after they allegedly received more than $146,000 in Medicaid benefits through the NJ Family Care program, Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said Wednesday.

Israel Safran, 42, and Esti Safran, 41, were arrested June 25 at their Lakewood home and processed at the Ocean County Jail. Both are now free on bond; Mr. Safran’s bail was set at $100,000, no 10 percent, according to Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and Mrs. Safran’s bail was set at $15,000, no 10 percent.

Mr. Safran is accused of filing fraudulent applications for NJ Family Care (Medicaid) from 2009 to 2013 by failing to reveal hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial support from relatives, as well as income from a rental property, Della Fave said. The state ultimately paid $146,010.36 in health care benefits, he said.

The charges against Israel Safran include second-degree theft by deception, third-degree Medicaid fraud and third-degree tampering with government records.

Esti Safran is alleged to have filed fraudulent applications to receive home energy assistance between April 2009 and August 2011, resulting in a loss to the state of $2,653, Della Fave said. She is charged with third-degree theft by deception, he said.

Mr. Safran, who is represented by attorney Larry Loigman, faces between 5 to 10 years in New Jersey State prison if convicted and Mrs. Safran up to five years in New Jersey State Prison if convicted, Della Fave said.