Welfare fraud
lands man in jail

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

A Waikiki man accused of defrauding welfare and Social Security benefits was sentenced to five years probation, with one year in jail.

Carroll G. White, 55, had pleaded no contest to first-degree theft, obtaining $127,000 in welfare benefits from the state and more than $30,000 from the federal government in Social Security benefits between January 1992 and June 2000.

The state had evidence that showed he was knowledgeable in creating false IDs and obtaining birth and death certificates for children, said Deputy Attorney General Rick Damerville.

Investigators saw White go out to different welfare offices using different IDs. In a search of his home, a wallet containing picture ID cards under his name, as well as another name believed to be a brother who died in infancy were recovered.

White's actions hurt taxpayers and others seeking public aid because it reduces the funds for those legitimately in need, Damerville said.

White allegedly failed to disclose his workers comp and personal injury settlements, which would have affected the amount of any assistance he was eligible for.