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Thursday, November 16, 1995     Page: 2A

WILKES-BARRE — A woman dubbed the biggest welfare cheat in Luzerne County
history was sentenced Wednesday for defrauding the state of more than $37,000.
   
Joann Fine, 48, of South Sheridan Street, was charged May 9 with welfare
fraud and subsequently pleaded guilty.
    Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Conahan sentenced Fine
to the following:
   
23 months probation.
   
100 hours of community service.
   
Court costs plus full restitution.
   
Fine has been permanently disqualified from participating in both the Cash
Assistance and Food Stamp programs.
   
When she was arrested, following an investigation sparked by an angry
tipster, the state Office of Inspector General dubbed Fine as the biggest
welfare cheat arrested in the county.
   
According to the state Office of Inspector General, Division of Recipient
Prosecution, Fine received $37,380 in public assistance benefits during a
three-year period while failing to report nearly $93,000 in wages earned for
taking care of an elderly woman.