Three Butler County residents are accused of felony welfare fraud for falsely claiming thousands of dollars in public assistance.

The Pennsylvania Inspector General's office in separate cases last week charged the defendants — Susan E. Campbell, 58, of Washington Township; Marcia A. Osche, 61, of Butler Township; and Donald J. Slomer Sr., 52, of Clay Township.

Campbell between March 1 and July 31, 2016, is accused of fraudulently collecting $4,304.31 in Medical Assistance Program benefits and $895 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, formerly known as food stamps.

Authorities said Cambell was not entitled to the assistance because she failed to report income to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

At the time, according to court documents, she was employed at J.W. Yeager Construction in Middlesex Township.

Investigators said Osche between Jan. 1 and July 31, 2016, illegally received $3,216.21 in medical assistance benefits and $1,291 in SNAP benefits.

She failed to disclose, documents said, that she was working at Hamley Corporation in Harmony and Pittsburgh Caregivers in Wexford.

Slomer between April 18 and Sept. 22, 2016, collected $3,065.45 in medical assistance benefits that he was not entitled to, according to documents, because he was working for Blackbird Industries in Clay Township.

The defendants are each charged with a third-degree felony count of fraudulently receiving public assistance.

If convicted, the maximum penalty they face is seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000, plus a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they defrauded.

Preliminary hearings for the defendants are set for Aug. 21 at the office of District Judge William Fullerton in Butler.