Welfare and Unemployment Fraud in Wyoming

Knowingly making a false statement, hiding a material fact, or conspiring to obtain SNAP (food stamp) benefits or other public welfare benefits, illegally buying, selling or trading SNAP benefits, or giving away resources to qualify is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both when the value is $500 or more, and a misdemeanor (up to 6 months, up to $750, or both) below $500. The state may recover the overpaid benefits, and benefits are cut off until the sentence is completed and full restitution is made. Medicaid fraud is a misdemeanor under $1,000 and a felony (up to 10 years, up to $10,000, or both) at $1,000 or more. Unemployment benefits fraud is a misdemeanor (up to $750, 90 days, or both) under $1,000 and a felony (up to 5 years, up to $5,000, or both) at $1,000 or more, with mandatory restitution and a 2-year disqualification from benefits.

Wyoming's rule on court-appointed lawyers: The public defender represents any needy person under arrest for or formally charged with a serious crime (any felony, or a misdemeanor for which incarceration is a practical possibility, plus misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence) if the defendant requests counsel or the court orders appointment. At the initial appearance the court advises a needy defendant of the right to an attorney at public expense and of the possibility of being ordered to reimburse the state. Need is determined by the court on a separate written application for each proceeding. A person whose annual gross income is less than 125% of the current federal poverty level for the immediate family unit is needy; between 125% and 218% may be deemed needy; above 218% shall not be deemed needy (though a felony defendant may be found needy in extraordinary circumstances). A person is presumed needy if receiving TANF, EAEDC, poverty-related veterans benefits, SNAP, Medicaid or SSI, or if in a public mental health facility, state prison or county jail with no available funds or liquid assets. Release on bail does not necessarily prevent a finding of need. The court must determine whether the person can reimburse any of the costs and may order reimbursement under the state public defender's standard fee schedule. W.S. 7-6-102(a)(iv)-(v), 7-6-104, 7-6-105, 7-6-106

Lawyers set their own fees, and Wyoming has rules on how they may charge. See hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Wyoming for fee rules, how to check a lawyer's license and free help.

How release before trial works in Wyoming: A person arrested for an offense not punishable by death may be admitted to bail. For an offense punishable by death, bail is at the discretion of the authorized judicial officer, except that the defendant shall not be admitted to bail if the proof is evident or the presumption great. Wyoming Supreme Court rules govern the terms, amount and conditions of bail. Under Rule 46.1, all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital cases when the proof is evident or the presumption great, and excessive bail shall not be required; a judicial officer orders the person released or detained pending proceedings. Within four hours after a person is confined to jail, the custodial officer shall advise the person of the right to file a written request with the court for pretrial release and provide writing materials; no particular form of request is required and it may be handwritten. W.S. 7-10-101, 7-10-102; Wyo. R. Crim. P. 46.1(a) (as amended effective July 1, 2019) What happens after an arrest.

Each state sets its own rules for sealing or expunging records. See Wyoming expungement and record sealing rules.