Cumby Kids Day Care Center owner and child care provider, Angela Lee was indicted of Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information on May 12, 2014. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) received an anonymous complaint alleging Lee had falsified the child care applications of her customers.
The arrest and criminal charges are the result of a joint investigation by TWC, Office of Investigations and an investigator with the Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas.
“The Texas Workforce Commission is committed to the integrity of the subsidized child care program and prosecuting individuals who engage in fraud,” said TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar. “Our priority is protecting those benefits for individuals who are eligible to receive child care financial assistance, which will enable them to work or attend workforce training activities.” According to the criminal complaint, Lee allegedly used other individual’s information, without their knowledge, to apply for child care services for children who were not enrolled in her day care center. Lee owned and operated the Cumby Kids Day Care Center in Cumby. Lee pled guilty to the charges on September 14, 2015. On December 31, 2015 Judge Eddie Northcutt sentenced Lee to 10 years community supervision and ordered her to pay $40,005 in restitution to TWC.
“TWC remains vigilant in detecting and eliminating fraud so the child care services program fulfills its intended purpose of assisting eligible Texans,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ruth R. Hughs. “We will vigorously pursue anyone who threatens the integrity of the program.” TWC works with local workforce development boards partners to investigate suspected child care fraud cases. When the evidence supports prosecution, investigators refer such cases to local district attorneys who pursue legal action against those individuals involved in abusing or committing fraud in the subsidized child care services program.
TWC’s Regulatory Integrity Division (RID) is charged with detecting and preventing fraud, waste and abuse. RID enforces all regulatory statutes within the jurisdiction of the agency, including Tax, Workforce, Trade Act, Skills Development Fund, Self-Sufficiency Fund, Child Care Development Fund and all other programs that TWC administers.
For examples of reportable violations and to report suspected fraud, call the TWC Fraud and Program Abuse Hotline at 800-252-3642 or visit TWC’s website at Reporting Fraud in Programs.