(WHTM) – The Pennsylvania State Inspector General’s office says 62 people were charged with public assistance fraud in the first three months of 2025, with restitution exceeding $500,000.

State Inspector General Michelle Henry says her office investigated over 5,000 applications for public assistance and prevented nearly $14.8 million in public benefits from being stolen.

Of the 62 individuals charged, 59 were charged with felonies and six were charged with misdemeanors. The majority of individuals are alleged to have “misrepresented their household circumstances and fraudulently received taxpayer-funded public benefits to which they were not entitled.”

“Ensuring that public assistance benefits are safeguarded is not just our duty—it is our commitment to the people of Pennsylvania,” said State Inspector General Michelle A. Henry. “Every dollar saved through our efforts restores resources to those who genuinely rely on and deserve these vital programs. We will continue to pursue fraud wherever it occurs and hold those accountable who attempt to take advantage of these systems.”

More than $15.2 million in public assistance funds were protected during the first quarter of the year.