LYNNWOOD – Thousands of dollars worth of medical supplies purchased by the state for a disabled Lynnwood girl were sold by her mother on eBay, officials alleged Wednesday.
The woman, 39, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree theft and falsely seeking state aid.
State fraud investigators suspect she sold more than $15,000 worth of diapers, fruit drinks, cases of the nutritional supplement PediaSure and other medical supplies through the popular online auction site.
The supplies were meant for her 8-year-old daughter, who uses a wheelchair.
The eBay sales allegedly started in June 2002, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by Linda Peterson, criminal investigator for the state Department of Social and Health Services.
Peterson began investigating after receiving a tip from Wanda DeGolier of Tacoma, who bought 12 cases of PediaSure from the Lynnwood woman.
She noticed that one case had a label from a medical supply company in Snohomish saying the supplement was for the Lynnwood woman’s daughter.
“It’s wrong, it’s just wrong,” said DeGolier, who was buying the PediaSure for her 18-month old son Makin, who is fed through a tube because he isn’t able to swallow food.
“I know having a special needs kid is expensive, but that’s not the way to make ends meet,” she said.
DeGolier alerted the medical supply company, who worked with Peterson to track down the woman’s orders.
Other eBay buyers did not know how the woman was getting her supplies, investigators said.
After the woman ordered items July 26, she allegedly posted some for sale on eBay Aug. 12, the affidavit says.
Investigators purchased diapers and paid $180 for eight cases of PediaSure valued at $419.
They picked up the supplies Tuesday at the woman’s Lynnwood home and arrested her.
The woman also allegedly sold supplies purchased by her insurance company, which paid more than $22,000 for medical supplies since June 2002, the affidavit says.
She was booked into the Snohomish County Jail, and posted bail shortly after midnight Wednesday.
Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or schiffner@heraldnet.com.
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