Harrisburg, PA –The Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) and Fayette County District Attorney’s Office announced charges today against Uniontown City Council Member Trace Thomas, 34, who allegedly collected $6,705 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits by failing to report more than $166,000 in wages from his job with Senior Life, a care provider for older adults in Fayette County.
Thomas was charged with a third-degree felony for allegedly making false statements in order to obtain benefits Thomas earned $166,637.61 in gross wages from Senior LIFE between November 9, 2023 and September 30, 2025, but repeatedly told the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) he had no income. As a result, Thomas received $5,705 in SNAP benefits from February 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025 and $1,000 in LIHEAP…
PROCUREMENT & EXPENDITURE (STOPPING KICKBACKS)
Procurement fraud usually involves inflated invoices or “fictitious” vendors.
- The Three-Way Match: Never pay an invoice unless you have matched the Purchase Order (PO), the Delivery Note (signed), and the Supplier Invoice.
- Vendor Master File Review: Review your vendor list annually. Look for suppliers with the same bank details or physical addresses as your employees.
- Dual Authorization: Implement a “Two-to-Sign” rule for all EFT payments above a certain threshold (e.g., R5,000).
- No “Cashing” of Checks: If you still use physical checks, strictly prohibit “Cash” as a payee and store blank checks in a dual-lock safe.