On Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, a Fulton County Grand Jury returned indictments against 14 individuals for defrauding the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) by submitting false applications for childcare assistance when their incomes exceeded eligibility levels. The defendants are Casmon Blackwell, Rebecca Calderon, Kiana Collins, Tannaqill Rogers Cooke, Cindy Dawson, Chonquita Forbes, Silvana Guerrero, Erica Kelley, Fatou Manneh a/k/a Fatou Menneh, Natasha Seals, Shahidah Shaheed, Fatoumatta Taal, Antroinetta Williams, and Shawnetta Wilmont. Collectively, the defendants are accused of defrauding the state of $251,477.

The defendants were recipients of child care assistance from the state of Georgia through the Childcare and Parent Services program (CAPS). The CAPS program is administered by DECAL, which is also called Bright from the Start. CAPS provides child care assistance to low-income families by subsidizing the cost of child care while the parent works, attends school or participates in a training program. The state pays the child care provider directly for the cost of the child care.

CAPS benefits are designed to help low-income families, and thus a recipient’s income may not exceed the income eligibility level established by the state. The income eligibility level increases for each additional child in the family. Defendants in these cases received CAPS payments to which they were not entitled by falsely claiming that their incomes were lower than they actually were, when in fact their incomes exceeded the income eligibility level for the CAPS program. Some of the defendants also submitted forged paycheck statements to support the amount of income claimed.

“The CAPS program is intended to aid low-income parents trying to make a better life for themselves and their families,” said Attorney General Sam Olens. “It is shameful that these individuals made a conscious effort to abuse a program designed for families in need. We appreciate the Georgia Department Early Care and Learning bringing these cases to our attention. We will continue to work together to ensure that tax dollars are protected from fraud.”

In one instance, Fatoumatta Taal submitted six applications from 2007 to 2012 for CAPS benefits in which she claimed to earn between $15,024 and $17,680 per year. In fact, during each of those years her annual earnings were over $45,000. As a result of her misrepresentations, she received over $38,000 in benefits which she was not entitled to receive.

“We hope these indictments send a strong warning to anyone who might consider taking advantage of this program,” said Amy M. Jacobs, Commissioner of Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. “The CAPS Program provides federal subsidies to help families access quality child care. The integrity of the CAPS Program, and all DECAL programs, is a critical and significant priority of the department. We want to thank the State Attorney General’s office and Department of Audits and Accounts for their assistance.”

DECAL discovered irregularities after a performance audit of the CAPS program was conducted by the Department of Audits and Accounts. The audit revealed large numbers of CAPS recipients were receiving benefits for which they were not entitled because their incomes exceeded eligibility levels. Each of the defendants in these cases received over $5,000 in benefits to which they were not entitled.

The defendants have been charged as follows:

Casmon Blackwell
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (2 counts)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (3 counts)

Rebecca Calderon
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (3 counts)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (3 counts)

Kiana Collins
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (3 counts)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (1 counts)

Tannaqill Rogers Cooke
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (2 counts)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (2 counts)

Cindy Dawson
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (1 count)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (1 count)

Chonquita Forbes
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (2 counts)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (2 counts)

Silvana Guerrero
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (5 counts)

Erica Kelley
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (3 counts)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (3 counts)

Fatou Manneh, a/k/a Fatou Menneh
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (2 counts)

Shahidah Shaheed
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (2 counts)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (2 counts)

Natasha Seals
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (1 count)

Fatoumatta Taal
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (6 counts)

Shawnetta Wilmont
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (3 counts)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (3 counts)

Antroinetta Williams
False Statements, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 (3 counts)
Forgery in the First Degree, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1 (4 counts)

False Statements is punishable by one to five years and a fine up to $100,000. Forgery in the First Degree is punishable by one to ten years for offenses committed prior to July 1, 2012, and one to 15 years for offenses committed on July 1, 2012, or after, and a fine of up to $100,000.

Assistant Attorney General Greg Lohmeier is prosecuting the case on behalf of the state of Georgia.