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Woman took $65K in public assistance benefits she wasn't eligible for, investigators say

Posted at 9:07 AM, Aug 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-26 13:24:19-04

EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. -- Prosecutors say a woman in Eagle County collected $65,730 in benefits she wasn't eligible for.

Jennifer Lee Hetei, age 50, was arrested on suspicion of theft.

"The investigation revealed that Hetei intentionally misrepresented her household composition and income to make herself eligible for public assistance benefits from November 2011 through March 2016," Eagle County officials said in a statement sent to Denver7. "During this time Hetei collected $65,730.00 worth in benefits that she was not eligible for."

County officials said the Eagle County Joint Fraud Investigations Task Force has recovered approximately $150,000 in restitution for the State of Colorado and its citizens stemming from 10 investigations.