Man pleads guilty to another fraud after being convicted by jury in similar case
NORWICH – An Afton businessman who was convicted of felony fraud in June returned to Chenango County Court Monday to face another jury in a similar fraud case, but took a plea deal instead.
Edward J. Panus, 60, pleaded guilty to fourth degree welfare fraud, an E Class felony. The plea could add another four years to his maximum prison sentence in conjunction with his previous felony convictions.
“Citizens who are deserving of public assistance certainly are eligible to receive it, but when people choose to deceive or hide the accuracy of their finances in an effort to intentionally defraud the public, they should and will be punished. It’s stealing and it’s all the hard working taxpayers of the county that are the true victims of these crimes,” said Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese.
In a previous two-day trial June 23, Panus was found guilty of all six felony fraud charges against him after 48 minutes of jury deliberation.
On Feb. 4, 2009, the New York State Insurance Frauds Bureau and the New York State Police arrested Panus for collecting about $60,000 from the workers’ compensation fund he was not entitled to since 1996.
During the trial, District Attorney Joseph McBride submitted documents that showed Panus stated to bank officials he was receiving about $10,000 a month in income while continuing to collect about $100 a week from worker’s compensation. McBride contended that Panus was the owner of Ponderosa Fish Farms and gainfully employed at the time. Though unlikely to receive the maximum, McBride said Panus was technically facing a possible 24 years in state prison for the June convictions.
Panus returned to Chenango County Court Monday to begin his second trial in a similar case of fraud. As potential jurors filled the courtroom, Panus’ defense attorney, Aaron Dean of Norwich, told the court his client wished to change his plea and accept a plea bargain offered by the prosecution.
Ferrarese said Panus falsified his food stamps application Oct. 30, 2009 by failing to mention he had a $10,000 savings account at Sidney Federal Credit Union. Panus admitted that he collected $1,280 worth of food stamps between October 2008 and May 2009 that he was not eligible for.
“When you fill out these documents, there is a notation at the end clearly telling the signer to disclose all the proper financial information and that not doing so is considered a crime,” said Ferrarese. The ADA said he was going to submit that paperwork along with additional bank and agency documents as evidence and had six witnesses prepared to take the stand.
According to Ferrarese, Panus would not have been eligible for any public assistance if he had filled the forms out accurately.
Panus, who was not incarcerated at the start of the trial, was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility without bail following the plea. His sentencing in both cases will be scheduled at a later date.
Edward J. Panus, 60, pleaded guilty to fourth degree welfare fraud, an E Class felony. The plea could add another four years to his maximum prison sentence in conjunction with his previous felony convictions.
“Citizens who are deserving of public assistance certainly are eligible to receive it, but when people choose to deceive or hide the accuracy of their finances in an effort to intentionally defraud the public, they should and will be punished. It’s stealing and it’s all the hard working taxpayers of the county that are the true victims of these crimes,” said Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese.
In a previous two-day trial June 23, Panus was found guilty of all six felony fraud charges against him after 48 minutes of jury deliberation.
On Feb. 4, 2009, the New York State Insurance Frauds Bureau and the New York State Police arrested Panus for collecting about $60,000 from the workers’ compensation fund he was not entitled to since 1996.
During the trial, District Attorney Joseph McBride submitted documents that showed Panus stated to bank officials he was receiving about $10,000 a month in income while continuing to collect about $100 a week from worker’s compensation. McBride contended that Panus was the owner of Ponderosa Fish Farms and gainfully employed at the time. Though unlikely to receive the maximum, McBride said Panus was technically facing a possible 24 years in state prison for the June convictions.
Panus returned to Chenango County Court Monday to begin his second trial in a similar case of fraud. As potential jurors filled the courtroom, Panus’ defense attorney, Aaron Dean of Norwich, told the court his client wished to change his plea and accept a plea bargain offered by the prosecution.
Ferrarese said Panus falsified his food stamps application Oct. 30, 2009 by failing to mention he had a $10,000 savings account at Sidney Federal Credit Union. Panus admitted that he collected $1,280 worth of food stamps between October 2008 and May 2009 that he was not eligible for.
“When you fill out these documents, there is a notation at the end clearly telling the signer to disclose all the proper financial information and that not doing so is considered a crime,” said Ferrarese. The ADA said he was going to submit that paperwork along with additional bank and agency documents as evidence and had six witnesses prepared to take the stand.
According to Ferrarese, Panus would not have been eligible for any public assistance if he had filled the forms out accurately.
Panus, who was not incarcerated at the start of the trial, was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility without bail following the plea. His sentencing in both cases will be scheduled at a later date.
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