Sounds like the rep was making things up (or used to work for Citi), but I don't have any datapoints to share. Assuming you no longer have either card, you should be able to apply in March and earn more bonuses.

Personally, I would be concerned about applying for a Chase card that you cancelled in the recent past. When I have decided to re-apply for a Chase card that I had had in the past, I waited over a year - I really don't want Chase to fire me as a customer.