October 8, 2024 |
Photo – Mug shots of Sarah Fitzwater and Matthew Wagy – Courtesy CCSO
An Encampment couple charged with welfare fraud have been sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
In March of this year, 43-year-old Sarah Fitzwater and 41-year-old Matthew Wagy, both from Encampment, were convicted of multiple counts of defrauding roughly $45,000 from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Between July of 2017 and November of 2022, Fitzwater received public assistance from the Department of Family Services. The Encampment woman claimed she lived alone and took care of her and Wagy’s three children on virtually no income.
However, authorities became suspicious of Fitzwater and Wagy after seeing social media posts showing the couple’s wedding in Cabo, Mexico. Using voter registration records, investigators were able to determine that the couple were, in fact, living together the entire time Fitzwater was receiving public assistance.
In July of 2023, following a Department of Family Services Eligibility Integrity Unit investigation, the couple was arrested and charged with welfare fraud.
In March, Fitzwater was convicted of 18 out of 19 charges of welfare fraud. Wagy, her husband, was convicted of nine counts of welfare fraud.
The couple were sentenced last month by the Carbon County District court. All of Fitzwater and Wagy’s charges carry between four- and seven-year prison sentences. However, despite numerous convictions, both defendants will serve their sentences concurrently, meaning, they could be free within four years.
Fitzwater is required to reimburse the Department of Family Services for $44,686 in fraudulent welfare claims. Wagy must do the same, but for $34,239. The court also ordered both Wagy and Fitzwater to pay nearly $4,000 in fines. The two were given credit for one day of time served.
The couple were given, what the court calls, a stay of execution, meaning both Fitzwater and Wagy have until February 6th of 2025 to report to the Carbon County Jail to serve their time.
After they are released, both Fitzwater and Wagy will be on probation for three years, where neither defendant will be permitted to make any purchases over $500 without their probation officers’ approval until the Department of Family Services is paid back.
No word on what will happen to the couple’s three children.
