![North Mankato Couple Charged With Benefit Fraud](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2014/10/Hannahs-Law.jpg?w=980&q=75)
North Mankato Couple Charged With Benefit Fraud
NORTH MANKATO (AP) - The Minnesota couple whose daughter's death prompted a 2011 child care safety law has been accused of concealing assets at the same time they were getting public assistance.
Justin and Jennifer Kozitza of North Mankato were each charged Monday with wrongfully obtaining assistance, a felony. The complaint says the couple applied for food, cash and health care assistance from Nicollet County Social Services for themselves and their other daughter. It says they reported combined assets in the form as $553 in a checking account, two vehicles and their home.
Court documents show the couple received those benefits from November 2013 to February and also applied for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
A Nicollet County fraud investigator determined in February the Kozitzas were concealing the $960,000 lawsuit settlement from two years ago and other possessions.
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