GOSHEN – From 2011 through 2013, four welfare fraud arrests were
made in Orange County, but since then, under the District Attorney David
Hoovler, Sheriff Carl DuBois and the county Social Services Department,
146 people and two corporations were charged. That includes the
two dozen people arrested and charged with ripping off the county
to the tune of $242,000.
The total dollar amount of all of the frauds was over $1.5 million and
to date, Hoovler said the county has been repaid $420,000 and another
almost $190,000 from recipients who voluntarily paid back benefits that
they received but were not entitled to.
Hoovler said the intent of the arrests is not to put people in jail, but
to recoup the funds so they could be used for persons who really need
them.
Two of those arrested illegally collected over $30,000 apiece –
Janine Cassisi, 52, of New Windsor, and Nadia Jackson, 38, of Newburgh.
A third person, Kim Simon-Smith, 50, of New Windsor, allegedly stole almost
$29,000 and Maria Benetiz, 35, of Middletown, is charged with illegally
collecting just under $28,000 in benefits.
