Manhattan, Oct 30 (THAINDIAN News) 19 Medicaid cheats who told whacky lies to collect insurance benefits meant for the poor was have been released. Most of them are quite well off yet they were taking benefits meant for the poor.

There is a Hampton’s homeowner who claimed to get by on only $5,000 a year, an artist who cried poverty despite owning two huge $1 million Manhattan apartments and a New Jersey woman who claimed she lived in her Manhattan nail salon itself were all charged, but they pleaded not guilty and were released.

“These people claimed to be entitled to Medicaid benefits to which they were not entitled,” said Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau.

According to the law, applicants to the government-backed insurance program must be very low-income earners having very few assets with them.

Prosecutors said the accused cheats weren’t short on money, fancy automobiles or homes.

Bronx dentist Euforcina Caluag was earning more than $150,000 a year, but she claimed to be unemployed with no income and she was instead pocketing $6,391 in public insurance benefits.

Diana Downing, was getting $38,161 in benefits, said she was getting free rent in exchange for managing a building on E. 80th St. that she actually owns. She also owns the next building too.

“I think we can confidently say that owning two buildings on the Upper East Side was going to be more than enough to take her out of the asset category,” said Mark Dwyer, chief assistant district attorney.