A British woman who collected $112,000 worth of state benefits illegally has been ordered to repay the sum, but not until the year 2977.
Kitching has been ordered to repay the ill-gotten money but at a rate of just over $10 per month. This pace of squaring the accounts means the amount she owes is scheduled to be repaid in 958 years.
Prosecutor Nigel Clive was cited by The Daily Mail as saying that the woman claimed the benefits while living in Spain with her children without telling British agencies she had moved abroad.
Clive said British authorities launched an investigation into Kitching’s fraudulent claims after receiving a tip from someone who noticed the woman had bragged on Facebook about her plans to move to Spain.
The woman’s attorney Craig Lowe said his client “is not the most intelligent of individuals and there was no prospect of success. It was only a matter of time before she was caught.”
The court handed down a suspended prison sentence of 12 months and ordered Kitching to undergo 20 days of rehabilitation.
The prosecutor said Kitching has so far paid back just over $500 of what she owes.
Judge Abdul Iqbal was cited by The Metro as saying the lenient sentence was “an act of mercy toward her children” and to avoid them having to be taken into state care.
Police Investigate ‘Fake Psychologist’ Who Treated Hundreds
The incident recalls the case of a Virginia woman arrested after allegedly pretending to be a licensed psychologist in Stafford County and unlawfully treating hundreds of patients.A representative with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office told the news outlet that authorities were alerted to Avery’s alleged malpractice by patients who felt they or their children had been misdiagnosed.
“Avery has treated hundreds of children and adults,” Amanda Vicinanzo told CBS6. “She was fired from the medical practice, which is no longer in business.”
Avery reportedly claimed she had two doctorates and a master’s degree, while investigators said she hadn’t even graduated from college.
The fake psychologist also reportedly testified in court in a juvenile relations case under the guise of a qualified expert, resulting in a charge of perjury.
Avery also faces charges of fraud, forgery, and practicing psychology without a license.
She was charged on May 6 and remains at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
Massive Marriage Fraud Scheme
Nearly 100 people were indicted, including an attorney, for participating in a massive marriage fraud ring in Houston, Texas, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Prosecutors said the marriages were shams because the alleged couples did not live together, nor did they have any plan to do so, even though their statements and official documents indicated that they did. Moreover, in some cases, these “spouses” had only met briefly and usually just before obtaining their marriage license. In other cases, they never met at all.
One of the middlemen in the scam allegedly received $50,000 to $70,000 from the “beneficiary spouse” for helping them to obtain full lawful permanent resident status, according to the statement.
According to the statement, marriage fraud, or conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, has a maximum sentence of five years.