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Colonic Company Owner Swindled City Out of $63K in Welfare Benefits: DA

By Nicholas Rizzi | October 24, 2013 2:50pm
 Inna Kulik, 43, was arrested and charged with welfare fraud after she swindled the city out of over $63,000 in benefits, which she used a lavish lifestyle that included trips to Mexico and two homes, the district attorney said.
Inna Kulik, 43, was arrested and charged with welfare fraud after she swindled the city out of over $63,000 in benefits, which she used a lavish lifestyle that included trips to Mexico and two homes, the district attorney said.
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DNAinfo New York

STATEN ISLAND — They flushed her out.

The owner of a colonic clinic was arrested after she swindled the city out of over $62,000 in welfare benefits, which she used to fund a lavish lifestyle including overseas trips, District Attorney Dan Donovan said on Thursday.

Inna Kulik, 43, repeatedly applied and received cash, food stamps and Medicaid from the city for four years, which she used to fund trips to Mexico, Europe and pay for two homes on Staten Island, prosecutors said.

"My office will not tolerate fraud of any kind, but this type of fraud — taking money from programs designed to help the less fortunate when you're gainfully employed — is inexcusable," Donovan said in a statement.

"Bad actors in Staten Island need to understand that they will not get away with stealing taxpayer dollars meant to help those who need it."

Even though Kulik co-owned a New Jersey-based colon hydrotherapy business, she allegedly did not report her employment, bank accounts or other money when she applied for city benefits from July 2006 until July 2010, the DA said.

She was arrested and charged last week with multiple charges of grand larceny, offering a false instrument for filing and welfare fraud.

Kulik is being held on $75,000 bail and is due back in court on Nov. 7, the DA said.