FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: AUGUST 29, 2019
RE: PRESS RELEASE – WELFARE FRAUD ARRESTS
TONI DEJESUS: On August 26, 2019, Toni DeJesus, age 50 of Kingston, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, Grand Larceny 3rd degree and 9 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st degree.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, revealed that between August 2013 and July 2019, Ms. DeJesus filed multiple documents with the Department of Social Services containing information that was not truthful and altered, in regard to her actual income from employment and household composition. Due to her undisclosed income, she received $28,099.00 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to.
Ms. DeJesus was processed and released with an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
JENNIFER COLE and PATRICK BOUSSON JR.: On August 22, 2019, Jennifer Cole age 35 and Patrick Bousson Jr. age 38, of Lake Katrine, NY, were arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and were each charged with the misdemeanors of Welfare Fraud 5th degree and Criminal Use of a Public Benefit Card 2nd degree.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, revealed that between May 2019 and August 2019, Ms. Cole and Mr. Bousson Jr. had been selling their SNAP benefits for cash, in order to purchase narcotics. SNAP benefits are provided by the Department of Social Services to purchase food for personal consumption.
Ms. Cole and Mr. Bousson Jr. were processed and released with appearance tickets for Ulster Town Court.
REBECCA MARTINEZ: On August 23, 2019, Rebeca Martinez, age 54 of New Paltz, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree and 13 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that between April 2015 and July 2019, Ms. Martinez had filed a number of falsified documents and applications/recertifications which did not disclose her complete income to the Department of Social Services, in order to receive SNAP benefits. As a result of the undisclosed income and falsified documents, Ms. Martinez received $10,944.00 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.
Ms. Martinez was processed and released with an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
NATALIE SKIPP: On August 21, 2019, Natalie Skipp, age 39 of Saugerties, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 4th degree, 2 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and misdemeanor Making a Punishable False Written Statement.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, revealed that Ms. Skipp had filed for and received Temporary Assistance benefits to house herself and children in the amount of $1,840.62 from the Department of Social Services during the month of July 2019, when in fact, her children have been in the care and custody of relatives in another state.
Ms. Skipp was processed and released with an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
JASMINE CALLWOOD: On August 19, 2019, Jasmine Callwood, age 30 of Kingston, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with felony Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and misdemeanor Welfare Fraud 5th degree.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that Ms. Callwood had filed an application for Temporary Assistance with the Department of Social Services in July 2019 and did not disclose that the gainfully employed father of her children, was residing with her in her household in Kingston, but advised Social Services that he was residing in the Bronx.
Ms. Callwood was processed and released with an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
SAMANTHA IRIZARRY: On August 13, 2019, Samantha Irizarry, age 28 of Ellenville, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with 2 counts of felony Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and the misdemeanors of Welfare Fraud 5th degree, Making a Punishable False Written Statement.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that during July 2019, Ms. Irizarry had falsified official documents to extend her stay at a local motel that the Department of Social Services contracts with to provide housing. Ms. Irizarry, then provided a false written deposition to the Department of Social Services denying her involvement in the incident.
Ms. Irizarry was processed and released with an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
MAGDALENE CORBIN: On August 1, 2019, Magdalene Corbin, age 30 of Hurley, N.Y., was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felony of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and misdemeanor Welfare Fraud 5th degree.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, revealed that Ms. Corbin had filed an application with the Department of Social Service for Temporary Assistance, not disclosing that her husband was residing with her in her household, but had listed him as an absent parent. Disclosure of her husband in the household would have required her to do mandatory searches for jobs or TA case closing. Ms. Corbin was processed and released with an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
ALAN HOGAN: On August 8, 2019, Alan Hogan, age 60 of Highland, N.Y., was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree and 2 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that Mr. Hogan had filed applications with the Department of Social Services between February 2018 and July 2019 and did not disclose that he was gainfully employed at a local auto repair shop, resulting in Mr. Hogan receiving $1,054.00 in SNAP benefits, $2,448.00 in Medicaid and $2,841.00 in Home Energy Assistance benefits that he was not entitled to.
Mr. Hogan was processed and issued an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
DINA TAYLOR: On July 24, 2019, Dina Taylor, age 41 of Gardiner, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, 3 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the N.Y.S. Office of the Medicaid Inspector General and the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, revealed that between April 2014 and January 2017, Ms. Taylor had filed multiple applications for Medicaid and SNAP benefits with the Department of Social Services, not disclosing her income. Due to the undisclosed income, Ms. Taylor received $3,817.00 in SNAP benefits and $13,501.29 in Medicaid benefits she was not entitled to.
Ms. Taylor was processed and issued an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
YVETTE VEGA: On July 22, 2019, Yvette Vega, age 36 of Middletown NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, 4 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and Grand Larceny 3rd degree.
An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that Ms. Vega had filed multiple applications for SNAP benefits between May 2016 and January 2019 with the Department of Social Services, not disclosing owning/operating a business, as well as the income she received from that business, located in Orange County, NY. Due to the undisclosed income, Ms. Vega received $11,645.00 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.
Ms. Vega was processed and issued an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.