Mrs. America Reported Target of Fraud Inquiry

The reigning Mrs. America was under investigation Monday for welfare fraud by the San Diego County Department of Social Services, according to a newspaper report.

Jill Scott, 32, who hastily terminated her welfare payments Friday, was being investigated for allegedly cheating the state system, according to anonymous sources cited in Monday’s San Diego Tribune. Officials of the department’s Welfare Fraud Division would not confirm the report.

Her attorney, Matthew Kremer, said Scott applied for welfare shortly after filing for divorce from George E. Scott in July. The couple had been separated since September, 1990, he said.

Since June, George Scott has been under court order to pay $1,340 a month in child and spouse support, Kremer said. George Scott has sent less than $1,000 to his wife, Kremer said. He added that she gave that money to her parents to repay a debt, although she should have sent it to the county Department of Revenue and Recovery.

Through Kremer, Scott denied that she had deliberately cheated the system. “This was an error,” Kremer said. “She regrets the mistake.”

Scott was crowned Mrs. America in December, 1990, at a pageant where she competed as Mrs. Arizona. Her term is to expire in April, according to pageant officials.

Her husband attended the pageant, Kremer said. The couple have two children, ages 8 and 6.

George Scott, who has worked in the oil pipeline business, claims he is struggling financially, Kremer said. He could not be reached for comment.

Scott has few marketable job skills, Kremer said; she hopes to land a modeling contract next month.

Being Mrs. America has not eased her financial problem, he said.

“Other than the title, it doesn’t mean a whole lot,” Kremer said. “She doesn’t get paid for speaking engagements. It’s supposed to lead to bigger and better things, but in her case it hasn’t done much for her. The Mrs. America people have pretty much left her in a lurch.”

The attorney added that Scott turned down an offer from Playboy magazine.