Seattle waterfront residents sentenced for welfare fraud
Sep 21, 2012, 1:20 PM | Updated: 3:37 pm
A Seattle couple who lived in a million dollar waterfront home is sentenced to prison for a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in government benefits.
Federal prosecutors proved that David Silverstein and Lyudmila Shimonova were living together as a couple in his waterfront home, while collecting a federal housing subsidy of $1,200 a month, plus food, medical and disability benefits from the state.
Silverstein falsely stated that he was Lyudmila’s landlord. State and federal investigators learned that the couple owned expensive jewelry, a luxury car and traveled, all while she claimed poverty.
A federal judge sentenced them to 18 months in prison. Restitution and penalties will total almost $600,000.
