Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 11, 1993 TAG: 9302110173
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
10-YEAR TERM GIVEN FOR WELFARE FRAUD
A Blacksburg mother of three was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday after her fourth conviction on welfare fraud in 16 years.Martha Ruth Winters Sparks, 46, pleaded not guilty in December to an indictment alleging she wrongfully received $2,372 in assistance from the Montgomery County Department of Social Services between July 1 and Dec. 31, 1991. The assistance was in the form of Aid to Dependent Children and food stamps.
Judge Kenneth Devore found her guilty, then delayed sentencing until a background report was prepared.
Probation officer Mike York testified that Sparks previously had been convicted of welfare fraud in Carroll County in 1977 and in Montgomery and Tazewell counties in 1990. York said the woman owed about $19,000 to Tazewell County for restitution.
York said his recommendation was that Sparks should receive some incarceration because of the repetitive nature of her offenses.
Sparks, who did not testify in December, testified Wednesday that someone gave her about $1,000 to move into an apartment. She put the money toward rent and a security deposit, she said.
Sparks, who is on probation for her previous convictions in Montgomery and Tazewell counties, said she had asked social services for help in moving and was told to try to borrow the money.
But Sparks failed to report that she had received the money. Had she done so, the amount of her benefits would have been reduced, court officials said.
Sparks also moved to Roanoke for awhile while receiving the benefits but failed to tell Montgomery County authorities.
Probation revocation hearings are pending.
Sparks asked the judge to give her another chance. She said she wanted to get her General Education Development certificate, go to work and be able to provide for her three children, ages 5, 9 and 14.
But Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith asked Devore to consider the maximum punishment. "This lady is the biggest thief I think that I've ever seen walk through the doors here," Keith said. "I think you ought to throw the book at her."
Sparks' attorney, Keith Neely of Christiansburg, argued that "the system has allowed her to walk away on numerous occasions." Conceding that some prison time was inevitable, Neely asked Devore to consider that Sparks probably would end up serving up to five years for the previous convictions for which she was on probation.
Neely asked the judge to sentence her Wednesday to an amount appropriate for the latest offense. Devore, before making his ruling, said welfare fraud is stealing from taxpayers and that Sparks had been given every opportunity in the past.