Welfare Fraud

(a) A person who knowingly or intentionally:

(1) obtains public relief or assistance by means of impersonation, fictitious transfer, false or misleading oral or written statement, fraudulent conveyance, or other fraudulent means;

(2) acquires, possesses, uses, transfers, sells, trades, issues, or disposes of:

(A) an authorization document to obtain public relief or assistance; or

(B) public relief or assistance;

except as authorized by law;

(3) uses, transfers, acquires, issues, or possesses a blank or incomplete authorization document to participate in public relief or assistance programs, except as authorized by law;

(4) counterfeits or alters an authorization document to receive public relief or assistance, or knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, or possesses a counterfeit or altered authorization document to receive public relief or assistance; or

(5) conceals information for the purpose of receiving public relief or assistance to which he is not entitled;

commits welfare fraud, a Class A misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (b).

(b) The offense is:

(1) a Level 6 felony if the amount of public relief or assistance involved is more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) but less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and

(2) a Level 5 felony if the amount of public relief or assistance involved is at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

(c) Whenever a person is convicted of welfare fraud under this section, the clerk of the sentencing court shall certify to the appropriate state agency and the appropriate agency of the county of the defendant’s residence:

(1) the defendant’s conviction; and

(2) whether the defendant is placed on probation and restitution is ordered under IC 35-38-2.

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