Lynbrook Man Charged With Bilking Taxpayers of More than $46K in Undeserved Medicaid Benefits

Danca claimed unemployment insurance as only income despite owning three rental properties

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice and Nassau County Department of Social Services Commissioner John E. Imhof announced today that a Lynbrook man has been charged with stealing more than $46,000 in Medicaid benefits over a four-year period by lying about the fact that he owns three rental homes and deposited more than $1 million into his bank account during that time.

Charles Danca, 51, surrendered to District Attorney Investigators early Tuesday morning. He has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, and three counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. He faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to be arraigned later Tuesday.

The investigation was conducted by DSS Investigator Michael Guardino, Investigations Director Karen Welkis and Stephen Nicastro of the DA’s Investigations Bureau.

Rice said that between January 2004 and September 2008, Danca received Medicaid benefits for himself and his family totaling $46,703 based on underreporting his income and assets. On Medicaid applications that he filed with the Nassau County Department of Social Services, Danca claimed that his income was $1,755 per month in unemployment benefits. In reality, Danca was collecting rent from three properties in Lynbrook, East Rockaway, and Quogue. His wife also owns “The Strapless Dress” clothing store in Lynbrook.

From January 2004 through 2008, Danca deposited more than $1.1 million into his personal bank account.

“Those who steal taxpayer money steal from all of us,” Rice said. “My office will not tolerate thieves who balance their personal budgets on the backs of Nassau County taxpayers.”

“DSS continues to work cooperatively with the District Attorney’s office to eliminate public welfare fraud,” Imhof said.“If you try and cheat the system in Nassau County, you will eventuallyget caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Weiss of the DA’s Government & Consumer Frauds Bureau is handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.