Welfare fraud arrests made in Fulton County

The Recorder, Amsterdam, N.Y.
LOCAL
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 / 5
Welfare fraud arrests made in Fulton County
By LEVI PASCHER
For The Recorder
A total of 22 Fulton County
residents were arrested for welfare fraud totaling $94,025 in
unentitled benefits after ongoing
investigations by the Fulton
County Department of Social
Services Investigative Unit.
According to the release distributed Monday, the arrests
were made between June 20,
2014, and Jan. 5, 2015.
All of those arrested face program disqualifications for a minimum of six months to permanent disqualification, the release
said.
• Melinda Wriston, 53, of
Gloversville, was arrested June
27 and charged with two counts
of first-degree offering a false
instrument for filing, fourthdegree grand larceny, and fourthdegree welfare fraud.
According to the investigative
unit, it was determined that she
failed to report wages on her
SNAP application. She received
$2,250 in SNAP benefits she
was not entitled to.
• Anthony Garcia, 51, of
Northville, was arrested July 10
and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing. According to the release,
it was determined that he failed
to report income on his SNAP
application.
• Courtney White, 26, of
Gloversville, was arrested July
15 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for filing, fourth-degree grand larceny,
and fourth-degree welfare fraud.
According to the investigative
unit, it was determined that she
failed to report unemployment
benefits on her SNAP application
and received $1,171 in SNAP
benefits she was not entitled to.
• Stephanie Reed, 22, of
Broadalbin, was arrested July 16
and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing, third-degree grand larceny, and third-degree welfare
fraud. The release said it was
determined that she failed to
report wages and all household
members on her SNAP application which resulted in her receiving $2,912 in SNAP benefits and
$1,225 in HEAP benefits she
was not entitled to.
• Richard Pawlus, 47, of
Amsterdam, was arrested July
17 and charged with obtaining
public assistance by fraud,
fourth-degree grand larceny, and
fourth-degree welfare fraud.
According to the investigative
unit, it was determined that he
failed to report unemployment
benefits to the department and
received $2,232 in SNAP benefits he was not entitled to.
• Alesha Miles, 24, of
Gloversville, was arrested July
20 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for filing, fourth-degree grand larceny,
and fourth-degree welfare fraud.
The release said it was determined that she failed to report
wages on her SNAP application
and received $1,194 in SNAP
benefits she was not entitled to.
• Kelly Spratt, 38, of
Gloversville, was arrested July 23
and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for filing, third-degree grand larceny,
and third-degree welfare fraud.
Authorities said it was determined
that she applied for benefits for
individuals who do not reside in
household on her SNAP application and received $10,845 in benefits she was not entitled to.
• Nadine Franolich, 28, of
VASQUEZ
TORRES
CHICHESTER
SYZDEK
VANPATTEN
GONZALES
Seven are facing welfare fraud
charges in Montgomery County
FONDA — A total of seven Montgomery
County residents were arrested Tuesday and
charged with welfare fraud following a joint
investigation between the Montgomery
County Department of Welfare Fraud,
Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office
and the Amsterdam Police Department.
They include a 21-year-old Amsterdam
woman who allegedly filed for $982 worth of
benefits to which she was not entitled. Magon
GREEN
Green, 10 Lincoln Ave., was charged with
first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a felony, and
fifth-degree welfare fraud after she allegedly falsified a public
assistance application with inaccurate household composition.
According to a news release, Green and six other subjects will
appear in Mohawk town court today at 5 p.m.
The following others were arrested:
• Michelle Vasquez, 45, 28 Glen Ave., Amsterdam, was arrested and charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for
filing, a felony, for allegedly falsifying employment documents
in an attempt to remain eligible.
• Patricia Marie Torres, 30, 9 Degraff St., Amsterdam, was
charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for allegedly
falsifying employment documents in an attempt to remain eligible.
• Sherry Chichester, 43, 62 Second St., Amsterdam, was arrested and charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for
filing, a felony, and fifth-degree welfare fraud after reportedly
submitting a false Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
application and receiving benefits for which she was not eligible.
• Renee Syzdek, 42, of 246 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, was
charged with first degree offering a false instrument for filing,
and fifth-degree welfare fraud after reportedly submitting a false
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application and
receiving benefits for which she was not eligible
• Kathleen Vanpatten, 36, 105 Mohawk St., Canajoharie, was
charged with first degree offering a false instrument for filing
and fifth-degree welfare fraud after she allegedly falsified
employment documents in an attempt to remain eligible.
• Jessica Gonzales, 34, 60 Division St., Amsterdam, was
charged with two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and fifth-degree welfare fraud after submitting a
false Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application and
receiving benefits for which she was not eligible.
More arrests are pending, according to the report. Welfare
fraud can be reported by calling 853-8328.
— Caroline Murray
Gloversville, was arrested Aug.
1 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing, fifth-degree welfare fraud,
and petit larceny. The investigation determined that she failed to
report all household members on
her SNAP application and
received $347 in SNAP benefits
she was not entitled to.
• Traci Marshall, 44, of
Gloversville, was arrested Sept.
11 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing, third-degree grand larceny, and third-degree welfare
fraud. According to the
Department of Social Services, it
was determined that she failed to
report wages and unemployment
benefits on her applications and
received $15,009 in SNAP benefits and $1,750 in HEAP benefits
she was not entitled to.
• Charles Dawson, 38, of
Gloversville, was arrested Oct. 1
and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for filing, fourth-degree grand larceny
and fourth-degree welfare fraud.
The investigative unit determined
that he failed to report wages on
his SNAP application and
received $1,988 in SNAP benefits he was not entitled to.
• Ina Kurz, 70, of Rockwood,
was arrested Oct. 6 and charged
with first-degree offering a false
instrument for filing, fourthdegree grand larceny, and fourthdegree welfare fraud. According
to the release, it was determined
that she failed to report her business on her SNAP application
and received $924 in SNAP benefits and $650 in HEAP benefits
she was not entitled to.
• Lisa Slater, 29, of
Gloversville, was arrested Oct.
23 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing, third-degree grand larceny, and third-degree welfare
fraud. Officials said it was determined that she failed to report
workers compensation benefits
on her SNAP application and
received $5,566 in SNAP benefits and $450 in HEAP benefits
she was not entitled to.
• Tonia Hoyt, 27, of
Gloversville, was arrested Oct.
23 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing, third-degree grand larceny, and third-degree welfare
fraud. Authorities said it was
determined that she failed to
report rental income on her
SNAP application and received
$3,280 in SNAP benefits and
$1,410 in HEAP benefits she
was not entitled to.
• Michael Yates, 37, of Caroga
Lake, was arrested Oct. 23 and
charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing,
third-degree grand larceny, and
third-degree welfare fraud.
According to the release, it was
determined that he failed to
report unemployment benefits
and wages on his applications.
• Tara Yates, 26, of Caroga
Lake, was arrested Oct. 23 and
charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing,
third-degree grand larceny, and
third-degree welfare fraud.The
release said it was determined
that she failed to report unemployment benefits and wages on
her SNAP application and
received $23,451 in SNAP benefits and $3,850 in HEAP benefits
she was not entitled to.
• Jennifer Weaver, 36, of
Gloversville was arrested Oct.
24 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing and third-degree forgery.
Officials said it was determined
that she submitted false documents to the department.
• Amaya Jones, 31, of
Gloversville, was arrested Nov.
24 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing, third-degree grand larceny, and third-degree welfare
fraud. According to the release,
it was determined that she failed
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to report wages on her SNAP
application and received
$3,825.41 in benefits she was
not entitled to.
• Jenell Hendericks, 41, of
Johnstown, was arrested Nov. 25
and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for filing, fourth-degree grand larceny
and fourth-degree welfare fraud.
Authorities said it was determined that she failed to report
wages on her SNAP application
and received $2,014 in SNAP
benefits and $400 in HEAP benefits she was not entitled to.
• Margaret Slade, 48, of
Gloversville, was arrested Dec.
15 and charged with obtaining
public assistance by fraud, fifthdegree welfare fraud, and petit
larceny. The release said it was
determined that she failed to
report wages to the department.
• Cherie McDaniel, 47, of
Gloversville, was arrested Dec.
18 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing, fourth-degree grand larceny, and fourth-degree welfare
fraud. Officials said it was determined that she reported false
information on her application
and received $1,864.32 benefits
she was not entitled to.
• Carla Kenyon, 42, of
Gloversville, was arrested Dec.
18 and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for
filing, fourth-degree grand larceny, and fourth-degree welfare
fraud. According to the release,
it was determined that she
reported false information on her
temporary assistance application
and received $1,086 in
Temporary Assistance benefits
she was not entitled to.
• Mary Premo, 35, of
Gloversville, was arrested Jan. 5
and charged with first-degree
offering a false instrument for filing, third-degree grand larceny,
and third-degree welfare fraud.
Authorities said it was determined that she failed to report
wages on her SNAP application
and received $4,124 in SNAP
benefits she was not entitled to.
In addition to the listed individuals, the investigative unit
also disqualified an additional 31
individuals from receiving cash
and/or SNAP (food stamp) benefits for a combined time period
of 378 months of program disqualifications. According to the
release, these disqualifications
resulted in $74,944 in combined
program savings.
The release said there are more
arrests pending by the Fulton
County Welfare Fraud Task
Force Team. The team consists
of the Fulton County Department
of Social Services investigative
unit, the Fulton County Sheriff’s
Office and the Fulton County
District Attorney’s office.
Welfare fraud can be reported
by calling 736-5620.
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