For Immediate Release
April 26, 2012
Contact: Sara Buschman, Department of Children and Families, (608) 266-9000
Anti-Fraud Efforts Result in Child Care Provider Sentenced to Fraud
Another child care provider was sentenced for fraud Thursday due to the vigilant efforts of the Department of Children and Families and Milwaukee law enforcement to stop and prevent fraud in the Wisconsin Shares program.
Eddie Mae Martin was criminally charged with one count of theft-false representation. Martin was the license holder for New Holy Ghost Tabernacle Day Care and was suspended from the Wisconsin Shares program by DCF in July, 2011. Martin was sentenced to seven years, and will serve two years in prison, with five years of extended supervision. Martin was also ordered to pay $143,000 in restitution.
"The Department of Children and Families is committed to ensuring that state funds are used only by those who are honestly working to provide important services to Wisconsin families," stated DCF Secretary Eloise Anderson. "Stopping and preventing fraud is critically important in our work to keep children safe and save taxpayer dollars. We will continue to partner with the district attorney's office and law enforcement to hold those accountable who steal from Wisconsin taxpayers.
Governor Scott Walker is committed to eliminating waste, fraud and abuse of public funds. By tackling fraud in Wisconsin Shares, the Department of Children and Families has saved taxpayers over $130 million.
These charges are a result of the collaborative work by the Milwaukee Child Care Anti-Fraud Task Force, led by the Department of Children and Families and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, which works collaboratively to investigate and prosecute child care fraud. The joint effort also includes the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice, Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and the Internal Revenue Service.
- END -