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Fergus Falls, MN – Warrants have been issued for a Florida couple, formerly of Otter Tail County, after they missed their first court appearance for a collective 55 theft and fraud felonies.
Court documents say 44-year-old Horia and 43-year-old Sandra Marcu of Fernandina Beach, Florida, have been accused of wrongfully receiving almost $650,000 in assistance from the State of Minnesota.
Prosecutors say Otter Tail County investigators received a tip in February 2023 that the couple had been living in Florida since March 2022 but were still receiving Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and Medical Assistance benefits from Otter Tail County Human Services. A county investigator found that the couple’s EBT card had been predominantly used in the Jacksonville area since the Macru’s had reportedly moved.
Investigators from Otter Tail County and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) launched an investigation into the couple’s recent history, uncovering multiple pieces of evidence of fraudulent behavior.
Investigators found that Horia had received Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services through medical assistance since 2016. The PCA services were being administered by Accra Care, and Sandra and Horia’s son, Michael Marcu, was being paid through Accra Care to provide PCA services to Horia. Investigators learned that Michael was discharged as a PCA after refusing in person visits.
In reviewing the Accra Care timesheets, investigators discovered they were submitted for PCA care provided to Horia by Michael during the time the household’s EBT card was being exclusively accessed in Florida. Additionally, the time sheets all appeared to be completed in a similar handwriting, even though there were four different individuals who had alleged to have provided the PCA services since 2016: Ioan Poptelecan, Jason Stowers, Chris Klenke and Mike Marcu. Michael Marcu’s wages from Accra Care were being deposited into a Farmers State Bank checking account owned by Horia.
When checking Horia and Sandra’s bank accounts, investigators found that between January 2018 and July 2023, the couple had failed to report $653,591.14 in income to Human Services. In addition, they found a payroll deposit from Accra Care for Christopher Klenke, one of the alleged Personal Care Assistants for Horia.
Prosecutors say the couple was overpaid an estimated $647,832.29 in combined MFIP and Medical Assistance benefits. Court documents show Horia and Sandra are being charged with seven counts of theft by swindle and twelve counts of wrongfully obtaining assistance. Horia has additionally been charged with nine counts of perjury, and Sandra has been charged with eight counts.
The couple were scheduled to make their first court appearance on Monday, October 13, after it had already been rescheduled twice.
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