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Gaylord woman faces felony theft, perjury charges

SIBLEY COUNTY — Charges of felony wrongfully obtaining assistance and perjury-public assistance were filed against a 46-year-old Gaylord woman were filed Feb. 11 in Sibley County District Court.

Robin E. Gardner, 711 Elm Ave., Gaylord, who formerly lived at 208 N. Carver St. in Winthrop, is accused of receiving $9,392.62 in public assistance that she was not eligible for, according to court documents. An arraignment hearing for Gardner was set for 9 a.m. March 7 in Sibley County District Court.

In October 2018, the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Sibley County Public Health and Human Services in investigating the theft of public assistance by Gardner when she lived in Winthrop. Gardner concealed her 2017 and 2018 income, according to a Sibley County Sheriff’s Office media release.

On Oct. 11, 2018, a Sibley County fraud investigator received a fraud prevention investigation referral from a Sibley County eligibility worker. The referral identified Gardner as the applicant and sole recipient for medical assistance (MA).

On Sept. 19, 2018, the eligibility worker received a voicemail from Gardner who said that a household member, Chyna Cradler, 20, moved out of Gardner’s home. Gardner reported Cradler in the home on the original 2015 application. Gardner is the legal guardian of Cradler.

Talking with Gardner again on Sept. 20, 2018, Gardner said she had been working at K&H Farms since 2016 and worked “off the books except for last year a little bit.”

In addition, Garden said she may now start working full time, but was not sure; and that her employer paid her around $800 to $1,000 a month and does not offer her insurance.

When asked for verification, Gardner said it would be about the same as last year and that she made $13,100.30 in 2017.

The first time Garden contacted Sibley County Public Health/Human Services on Sept. 19, 2018, she did not report her current employment and income.

Gardner never reported any of her income accurately including a pay increase on June 13, 2018. Gardner’s K&H Farms pay-stubs sowed her earning $14 an hour on Aug. 15, 2017 and a pay increase to $17 an hour on June 13, 2018.

Gardner continued to claim she only worked part-time. The investigator reviewed Gardner’s pay-stubs and learned that from Jan. 3, 2018 to Dec. 27, 2018, she never worked less than 41 hours a week.

The investigator told Gardner that her 2018 year to date income was about $36,000. Gardner said “that didn’t sound right.”

The investigator talked with K&H Farms owner Randall Kokesch on Jan. 29, 2019 and was told Gardner was now a full-time employee and began working there in 2016, when she was paid $11 an hour for inconsistent hours, in undocumented cash.

In 2017, Gardner’s wages rose to $14 an hour and a payroll system reported W-2s for all employees. Kokesch said Gardner’s work time exceeded 40 hours a week beginning January 2018 and her pay rose to $17 an hour.

In addition, K&H Farms reported Gardner received $13,110.30 from Aug. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017 and her 2018 wages were $47.666.65.

The investigator determined Gardner was overpaid $9,392.62 from Aug. 1, 2017 through Nov. 30, 2018.

The Sibley County Sheriff’s Office media release added that if anyone suspects fraud in their area, they can contact the a welfare fraud hotline around the clock at 800-627-9977 or 651-431-3968. Callers can remain anonymous.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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