A 41-year-old
Nigerian mother of four was arrested this week in Arlington, USA and charged
with four counts of welfare fraud for collecting over $100,000 in benefits –
all
while her husband was a high-earning attorney in D.C., police say.
Police say a
six-month investigation into Helen Agbapuruonwu, found that she had collected
benefits like food stamps and Medicaid assistance for the past six years.
While Helen
was collecting benefits, her husband, Fidelis Agbapuruonwu, was earning $1.5
million per year as a lawyer, according to court documents obtained by NBC
News4.
In 2001,
Fidelis received the prestigious Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship which helped pay
his way through law school.
Fidelis’
LinkedIn page claims he works for the D.C. firm of Mayer Brown, but today the
firm said he no longer works there. Court officials believe Fidelis, a Nigerian
immigrant, has “fled the country and is somewhere in Africa.”
The director
of the pre-school the Agbapuruonwu’s children once attended said she is shocked
by the allegations against family.
"I have
to believe it’s not true,” she said.
Helen
Agbapuruonwu’s defense lawyer declined to comment.
Police say
they hope this case is a deterrent to anyone who thinks about trying to cheat
the system.
"We hope
it sends a message that if you are taking public assistance it’s truly intended
for those in need, and we’re committed to ensuring those who need the most help
receive it," said Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage.
Source: NBC
News 4
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