Minn. couple arrested in Florida for welfare fraud

Yacht
Colin and Andrea Chisholm, who own this yacht, collected nearly $168,000 in benefits from the state of Minnesota between 2005 and 2012, according to charges.
Photo courtesy Hennepin County

A Minnesota couple who allegedly lived in expensive homes and owned a yacht while taking more than $160,000 in state welfare benefits has been arrested.

WCCO-TV reports 62-year-old Colin Chisholm III and 54-year-old Andrea Chisholm are being held in Florida.

More: Couple with $2.6M in assets charged with welfare fraud

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office said that they were deported from the Bahamas Monday and arrested when they landed near Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Chisholms' son and dog were turned over to family members.

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They are expected to appear in extradition court Wednesday to say whether they will fight extradition.

The Chisholms are charged with a one count of wrongfully obtaining public assistance of more than $35,000, a felony charge.

Court documents allege the pair illegally obtained food stamps and other benefits from 2005 to 2012.

According to charges filed last month, the Chisholms had assets of over $2.6 million in various bank accounts and lived in Florida on a million-dollar yacht during that time.