'Royal' Couple Allegedly Claimed Welfare and Food Stamps While Living on $1.2 M Yacht

Good Morning America ^ | March 29, 2014 | Liz Fields

[Uncle Chip]

A Minnesota couple who allegedly claim to be Scottish aristocrats are on the run, accused of claiming public assistance benefits while living on their $1.2 million yacht and driving a $30,000 Lexus.

Andrea Chisholm, 54, and Colin Chisholm III, 62, allegedly collected more than $167,000 in welfare, food stamps and medical assistance across two states over a period of around seven years, according to a complaint filed with a Minnesota State court.

For the past month, Hennepin County Sheriff's department has been searching for the couple who are still at large, according to a statement issued by the Hennepin County Attorney, Mike Freeman....

The Chisholms began claiming public assistance in Minnesota in 2005 after telling authorities they were living with Andrea's mother in Minneapolis.

Just weeks after the pair applied for assistance, they also bought an 83-foot yacht for $1.2 million in Florida, which they lived on for 28 months, according to the complaint.

They were also claiming benefits in Florida at the same time as they were collecting money in Minnesota, the complaint said.

The couple also allegedly failed to report the nearly $3 million they had deposited in various bank accounts "to support their lavish lifestyle," and concealed that they had lived in luxury lakeside homes in Deepahaven since 2008 when they moved back to Minnesota, the complaint said.

During this time, the pair continued to receive welfare benefits and medical assistance from the state, including the prenatal care Andrea Chisholm received while pregnant in 2006 and 2007, the complaint said.

"Colin Chisholm portrays himself as a Scottish aristocrat who is a wealthy and successful executive in the broadcasting industry," ...

[Starboard]

Ah, my bad. I missed your point initially (i.e., they may have actually been legally entitled to the support).

I’ve known of two neighbors who were scamming the system by claiming “disability”. They lived in nice houses, lacked for nothing and took more vacations than we do. They also found ways to supplement their income “on the side”. Its the American Way. ;)

[jch10]

They aren’t citizens, she, at 54, is pregnant, and nobody even checked on them??? Wasn’t the British consulate contacted to verify anything? Can anyone claim foreign citizenship and automatically receive welfare???

Wonder if I can move to ,say, Monte Carlo, or the Bahamas, and apply for benefits?

[Uncle Chip]

You ask some good questions —

This says more about Minnesota that allowed this to happen than anything else.

[cloudmountain]

"Royal couple" my aunt fanny.
They are merely a couple of ROYAL pains in the BUTT.