Thursday, December 8, 2011

When fraud causes slack-jaw syndrome

Over the course of the last few days, my family and I have been screaming at the TV as the despicable case of alleged welfare fraud conducted by David Silverstein and his spouse, Lyudmila Shiminova. In this time of economic uncertain, high unemployment and nation-wide foreclosures.  This well to do couple, decided they needed to go above and beyond their upper-class life-style, by perpetrating a fraud against the welfare system within the State of Washington.

While we all would have liked the fraud to have been detected prior to six figures worth of funds had found their way into the hands, I am heartened that the couple was detected and their efforts thwarted as a result of a normal checks & balances exercise.

The house these ***needy*** individuals resided was valued at >$1 million.

In case you haven't heard about this case, here are a few of the 20,000 plus links to articles.  As you read these, I think you too will come to the conclusion, that if these two individuals conducted the fraud alleged, they should be put away for one year for every dollar they obtained via fraudulent means.

  1. Daily Mail
    CBS News - 18 hours ago
    Chiropractor David Silverstein and his wife Lyudmila Shimonova are accused of filing false claims for more than $135000 in federal housing assistance since ...
    359 related articles
    Gaming the system
    ‎ - Anderson Independent Mail
  2. David Silverstein and Lyudmila Shimonova, Seattle 1 Percenters ...

    blogs.seattleweekly.com/.../12/david_silverstein_and_lyudmila.php
    2 days ago – Living in a big house on the shores of Lake Washington is expensive. But it helps if one has...
  3. Photo: Federal prosecutors say David Silverstein and Lyudmila ...

    www.commercialappeal.com/photos/2011/dec/06/256056/
    1 day ago – Federal prosecutors say David Silverstein and Lyudmila Shimonovalived in this $1.2 million Seattle home while also seeking more than ...
  4. Wealthy couple who live in $1.2m home and drive a Jag have been ...

    www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Wealthy-couple-live-1-2m-home-drive-Jag-...
    1 day ago – David Silverstein and Lyudmila Shimonova, from Seattle, are accused of filing false claims which included more than $1200 in public housing ...
  5. Couple in Seattle lake home sued in welfare fraud

    www.post-gazette.com/pg/11341/1195051-84-0.stm?cmpid...xml
    7 hours ago – ... a criminal search warrant at the home of David Silverstein and Lyudmila Shimonova, who the lawsuit says "are believed to be man and wife." ...
  6. Couple on Welfare Scam $135000 Despite Living in Million Dollar ...

    global.christianpost.com/.../couple-on-welfare-scam-135000-despite-...
    15 hours ago – The couple, David Silverstein and Lyudmila Shimonova, has been slapped with a lawsuit for cheating the federal government out of funds. ...
  7. Feds: Pair claimed welfare, but lived in $1.2M home, traveled world ...

    www.sltrib.com/csp/cms/sites/sltrib/pages/printerfriendly.csp?id...
    1 day ago – 2, 2011, accusing David Silverstein and Lyudmila Shimonova of filing false claims. Prosecutors are demanding they pay back more than ...
  8. Feds: Couple claimed welfare, lived in $1.2M home - The Denver Post

    www.denverpost.com › News › Breaking News
    1 day ago – 2, 2011, accusing David Silverstein and Lyudmila Shimonova of filing false claims. Prosecutors are demanding they pay back more than ...
  9. Successful chiropractic David Silverstein and wife, Lyudmila ...

    theoriginalgreenwichdiva.com/...david-silverstein...lyudmila-shimon...
    1 day ago – Successful chiropractic David Silverstein and wife, Lyudmila Shimonova, collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits while living in

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Seattle Geek Roast - a Benefit for Nick Magnotti


Yesterday I learned of the Seattle Geek Roast (#SeattleGeekRoast) being organized to raise funds for Nick Magnotti who has been diagnosed with Stage-IV Mucinous Adenocarinoma of the appendix, or in a word “cancer.”

The cost for Nick's treatment is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $200,000 to $300,000.  Given the rarity of this type of cancer, Nick will have to travel to obtain the unique treatment to either North Carolina or Nebraska. 
I don’t know Nick nor do I know his wife Alyssa, but I know of her work and contribution to the success of many via Thinkspace.  I also know that if it were me facing Nick’s situation and choices at age 25, I’d be thriving on the strength provided in the knowledge that the community of which I am a part has come to together on my behalf.  And we are all a community, and we can all help.  This young couple needs help.
Take a moment and visit the website “Seattle Geek Roast.”  Read Nick’s story, sign up to attend the event on 11 November 2011 at the Redmond Marriott at Redmond Town Center (7401 164th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052).  If you can’t make it, skip your coffee fix for the afternoon and donate that amount.  You see, when we all give a little, it becomes a lot. 
Let’s all do our best to help Nick Roast his Cancer
Thank you for your time, 
 Christopher 
 -------------------------------------------------- 
Additional reading: