PONTIAC, Mich. – A Pontiac woman accused of abandoning her children and leaving them in what officials described as squalor was sentenced Wednesday on her welfare fraud charges.
Oakland County Circuit Judge Mary Ellen Brennan sentenced Kelli Bryant to two years of probation for welfare.
Bryant had previously pleaded no contest to three counts of welfare fraud in December.
“Welfare fraud, with the financial damage being over $500, that you be placed on probation for a period of two years. That you serve 112 days in the Oakland County Jail, credit for 112 days,” Brennan said in court.
The welfare fraud case is tied to accusations that Bryant continued to collect public assistance benefits for her children after allegedly leaving them alone.
Bryant, who appeared in court shackled, also learned Wednesday that she has been found competent to stand trial on three counts of first-degree child…
This remains the most prevalent form of financial crime globally. It targets the direct access points to your money: your cards and your bank accounts.
- Skimming: Criminals use small devices called “skimmers” placed over ATM or point-of-sale card slots to capture the data from your card’s magnetic strip.
- Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: This occurs during online shopping where a physical card isn’t required. Thieves use stolen card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes to make unauthorized purchases.
- Account Takeover (ATO): A hacker gains access to your online banking credentials (often through malware or phishing) and changes the contact details or passwords, locking you out while they drain your funds.