Nassau Woman Stole $200,000 In Welfare, Housing Benefits: DA

An Inwood woman was arrested on Monday and charged with stealing more than $200,000 in welfare and housing benefits over the course of four years.

Amika Land, also known as Amika Simmons, 37, was arraigned yesterday before Judge Scott Siller and charged with third-degree welfare fraud, two counts of third-degree grand larceny and five counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. She was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court on Dec. 5. If convicted, she faces up to seven years in prison.

"This defendant allegedly falsified documents to steal more than $200,000 in government benefits that were earmarked for struggling families," said District Attorney Madeline Singas. "Stealing from programs that provide a safety net for the needy victimizes our most vulnerable neighbors and the taxpaying public, and we will vigorously prosecute this case."

DA Singas said between Feb. 18, 2011 and Aug. 31, 2015, Land received Medicaid, day care, public assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Home Energy Assistance Program benefits totaling $180,868. During that period, Land filed recertification forms with the Nassau County Department of Social Services (DSS) where she allegedly under-reported her household income.

Land was employed by a medical practice in Nassau County and worked in the billing department. During the period of the alleged fraud, her yearly gross income ranged between $38,604 to a high of $76,730 — amounts which would’ve made her ineligible for benefits.

Additionally, between Aug. 1, 2011, and July 31 2015, Land received Section Eight housing benefits from the Nassau County Office of Housing and Community Development (NCOHD) totaling $26,628. During that time, she allegedly under-reported her household income by submitting the same fraudulent letters to that agency that she did to DSS.

The case came to the NCDA in July 2016 following an investigation that was started by NCOHD and DSS.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office