CROWN POINT | A Merrillville woman was charged this week with felony welfare fraud after she milked the welfare system of nearly $192,000 in benefits to which she was not entitled, Lake Criminal Court records allege.

Kimberlei Miller, 33, told Indiana Family and Social Services Administration personnel that her children's father abandoned them and that she was living on a limited income, court records state.

She raked in $191,967.57 in benefits -- about $129,000 of that in Medicaid health coverage -- from 2003 to 2008, court records state. The rest of the money was in the form of cash, food stamps and child care, prosecutors allege.

During that same time period, the father of Miller's children filed tax forms listing Miller's home as his address, court records allege. Miller also under-reported her income to the state welfare agency, court documents state.

If convicted, Miller faces up to eight years in prison and an $8,000 fine.