17 Charged With Stealing Over $171,000 in Welfare Fraud in Orange County
Some 17 people were charged in Orange County with stealing over $171,000 in welfare, food stamps, unemployment insurance, and other public assistance benefits
The enforcement action was the result of the collaborative efforts of the Orange County Department of Social Services Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office.
During the investigation, investigators reviewed files of 12 people who receive public assistance benefit and were suspected of fraud.
Five additional defendants were charged by the New York State Police and the District Attorney’s Office for stealing unemployment benefits.
Below is a graph provided by the Orange County District Office of the defendants who were arrested:
NAME | TOTAL AMOUNT | BENEFIT | AGE | ARREST CHARGES | PLACE OF RESIDENCE |
| Rita DeLaurencio | $1,848.00 | SNAP | 55 | Welfare Fraud 4th Grand Larceny 4th | Newburgh |
| Elyse Gonzalez | $7,840 | SNAP | 31 | Welfare Fraud 3rd Grand Larceny 3rd | Middletown |
| Jennifer Goodwin | $1,338 | SNAP | 30 | Welfare Fraud 4th Grand Larceny 4th | New Hampton |
| Herbert McMillian | $2,182 | SNAP and Temporary Assistance | 53 | Welfare Fraud 4th Grand Larceny 4th | Newburgh |
| Gina Martin | $2,672.00 | SNAP | 33 | Welfare Fraud 4th Grand Larceny 4th | Newburgh |
| Shavvel Paul | $5,922.00 | SNAP | 41 | Welfare Fraud 3rd Grand Larceny 3rd | Newburgh |
| Ivania Vallar-Colon | $8,129.00 | SNAP | 30 | Welfare Fraud 3rd Grand Larceny 3rd | Newburgh |
| Wendy Vidal | $9,628.00 | SNAP | 42 | Welfare Fraud 3rd Grand Larceny 3rd | Newburgh |
| Elizabeth Mansueto | $4,227.75 | Child Care Benifits | 29 | Welfare Fraud 3rd Grand Larceny 3rd | Middletown |
| Christopher Perez | $39,978.15 | Unemployment Benefits | 38 | Grand Larceny 3rd and Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st | Newburgh |
| Felicia Green | $9,176.25 | Unemployment Benefits | 43 | Grand Larceny 3rd and Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st | Middletown |
| Michelle Critelli | $9,744.00 | Unemployment Benefits | 36 | Grand Larceny 3rd | Newburgh |
| Anthony Jenkins | $8,329.50 | Unemployment Benefits | 32 | Grand Larceny 3rd | Newburgh |
| Hope Brown | $14,241 | Unemployment Benefits | 55 | Grand Larceny 3rd and Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st | New Windsor |
The District Attorney’s Office and Orange County Sheriff’s Office are asking for the public’s help in locating the following, who are currently wanted on arrest warrants:
NAME | TOTAL AMOUNT | BENEFIT | AGE | ARREST CHARGES | PLACE OF RESIDENCE |
| Ursula Berry | $5,816.37 | Public Assistance Financial Support Child Care | 36 | Welfare Fraud 3rd Grand Larceny 3rd | Middletown |
| Francheska Laracuente | $36,480.28 | SNAP and Child Care | 29 | Welfare Fraud 3rd Grand Larceny 3rd | Newburgh |
| Marie Jean Giles | $3,566.00 | SNAP | 45 | Welfare Fraud 3rd Grand Larceny 3rd | Middletown |
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