Two dozen people arrested on Orange County welfare fraud charges

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 (see
names and photos) 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.
“The people that are committing the fraud are being caught and when they are being caught that puts the money back into the pool for the people that actually need it,” the DA said. “For everyone person that is defrauding Orange County there is someone who actually needs it that is not getting it and now we are making sure that those individuals are going to get what their fair share is.”
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.