Lebanon Woman Convicted of Welfare Fraud

PORTLAND, Ore. – In a shocking turn of events, Jamie Faye Cobat, 52, from Lebanon, Ore., was found guilty on Thursday, April 6, 2017, by a federal jury for wire fraud and theft.

Cobat is accused of swindling approximately $29,000 in welfare benefits by making fraudulent claims about her household composition and resources. The deceitful scheme involved false statements to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Oregon Department of Human Services (Oregon DHS).

The investigation into Cobat began in 2014 when social workers received allegations that her teenage son could no longer live with her due to her association with a convicted sex offender. Further scrutiny revealed that Cobat had been receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits by deceitfully claiming her son lived with her.

According to court records, Cobat actually started living with her partner in Lebanon after his release from prison in August 2012. This prompted her son to move in with his father. Despite this, Cobat continued to falsely claim her son lived with her, and she was not married, leading to fraudulent benefits totaling $19,247 in SSI, $5,825 in SNAP, and $2,845 in TANF.

Cobat will be sentenced on July 13, 2017, before United States District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman. The case was investigated by the SSA Office of Inspector General and Oregon DHS, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Helen Cooper and Gavin Bruce.

This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who exploit welfare systems for personal gain.

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