By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER WEST SIDE — An Upper West Side artist was sentenced to five years probation Wednesday for claiming $16,112 in benefits from Medicaid despite owning two waterfront properties in the Hamptons, the New York Post reported.
Medicaid is meant to help people with low incomes that have few assets access health-care services. For example, a single adult qualifies for Medicaid by earning less than $10,830, and owning less than $13,800 in assets.
Steven Colucci claimed to be making just $5,000 annually in order to meet the requirements, the Post reported. But prosecutors informed the court that Colucci owns two waterfront homes in a tony Westhampton village, one of which he rents out for $65,000 each summer, the Post reported.
Colucci also reportedly lives in a rent-stabilized apartment on W. 109th Street.
The artist is one of 19 accused Medicaid scammers who were busted in October for falsifying paperwork to receive benefits. Like Colucci, the rest of the fraudsters were wealthy and were nowhere near qualifying for the program, the Post reported.
Colucci pleaded guilty and wrote a penalty check for $19,036, the paper reported.
