Police officer charged with welfare fraud

Frank Andruscavage, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
·1 min read

Apr. 28—POTTSVILLE — A woman who served as a police officer in Schuylkill, Dauphin and other counties was arrested Tuesday on felony welfare fraud charges for failing to report her full income while receiving state assistance benefits.

Denna V. Krammes, 43, of 302 Lake Front Drive, Orwigsburg, was arrested by Agent Joelle Columbo of the state Office of the Attorney General and charged with fraudulently obtaining food stamps or assistance.

She was arraigned Tuesday afternoon by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and released on $5,000 unsecured bail pending a preliminary hearing.

Columbo charged Krammes for unlawfully obtaining $1,907 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, benefits, and $1,733.04 in Medical Assistance benefits.

The agent said that Krammes failed to report her income wages while working as a police officer in the Borough of Coaldale beginning Aug. 20 and continuing through Jan. 31.

"The defendant fraudulently incurred a SNAP benefit overpayment for herself and child and MA benefit overpayment for herself in the total amount of $3,640.04," Columbo wrote in paperwork filed with Reiley.

Reiley scheduled a preliminary hearing for 11:30 a.m. May 10 in his Pottsville courtroom.

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