NEW CITY – A Spring Valley woman was convicted in Rockland County Court to one count of welfare fraud, three counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument and three counts of offering a false instrument for filing, all as felonies.
Jermika Depas, 32, while living rent-free at 62 Branchwood Lane in Nanuet, filed three applications for welfare benefits with the Rockland County Department of Social services. The applications contained letters ostensibly from her landlord that falsely confirmed that Depas was paying rent.
The jury concluded that the signature of the landlord was a forgery and that Depas was not paying rent.
A fraud investigator from the county testified that as a result of her fraud, Depas received $4,700 in welfare benefits to which she was not entitled.
When sentenced in October, she faces up to seven years in state prison.
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