Welfare Fraud Investigator

Ramsey County (MN) • Saint Paul, MN

336d

About The Position

The current vacancy is in the County Attorney's Department. The eligibility list created by this vacancy may be used to hire other vacancies in the department or County. This position is identified under the designation of 'flex work eligible', meaning that the employee can formally opt to be in-office full-time or work a flex schedule in which at least two-days per week are performed in office and other days can be performed in a remote-first environment. Regardless of selection, the position carries expectations regarding on-site responsibilities and will require schedule flexibility beyond the minimum expectations set forth in the county's flexible workplace policy.

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent.
• Two years of investigative experience (including conducting surveillance, interviewing witnesses, preparing or issuing subpoenas and warrants, and writing reports) in a law enforcement agency or related legal-based investigative work.

Responsibilities

• Review complaints alleging welfare fraud and evaluate their credibility; and prioritize investigations according to the nature of those complaints.
• Plan investigations and collect evidence pertaining to cases of suspected welfare fraud by utilizing field surveillance, interviewing witnesses and welfare fraud suspects, examining relevant governmental and business files and expert witness reports, composing correspondence to procure information, issuing subpoenas, and executing search warrants.
• Evaluate the credibility, relevancy and admissibility of investigative findings to decide if there is probable cause for prosecution; and make recommendations to supervisor or attorney on whether to prosecute or terminate the case.
• Recommend that actions be taken to terminate or reduce welfare grants where recipients have been determined to be ineligible for the amount of aid they are receiving; and write reports relating to non-criminal collection referrals and restitution.
• Prepare affidavits and search warrants containing summaries of investigative findings (probable cause documents) for use in final phases of investigation.
• Plan the execution of search warrants to ensure that sufficient staff is available to execute the warrant; that potentially dangerous situations are anticipated and adjustments in personnel coverage made accordingly; and that the search is conducted and the warrant returned within the time limit prescribed by law.
• Execute search warrants, together with other investigators and police personnel, to obtain evidence.
• Compile reports of investigative findings for the purpose of presenting an organized set of case facts to prosecuting attorneys.
• Expedite prosecution of fraud cases by assisting attorneys with various aspects of trial preparation, including serving subpoenas, researching regulations, compiling visual aids and locating or re-interviewing witnesses; and share information with defense attorneys concerning individual cases and applicable welfare regulations.
• Testify in court and administrative hearings to relate first-hand evidence obtained during investigation.
• Recommend action(s) which can be taken by public agencies to reduce instances of abuse of public assistance programs; and coordinate joint efforts and share information with the public and private sector in an effort to curb welfare abuse.
• Compile statistics on time spent in each public assistance program and dollar amounts of case dispositions in order to receive federal reimbursements, facilitate fraud convictions and collect restitution and overpayments.

Benefits

• Flexible Workplace

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: High school or GED