KINGSTON – Seven people were arrested in separate welfare fraud cases in Ulster County.
Sean Westlake, 59, of Kingston, was charged with offering a false instrument for filing and welfare fraud. Between January and May, he did not disclose his rental income or his income from employment and filed a SNAP recertification with the Department of Social Services not indicating the income. He received $790 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Walter Kaminski, 71, of Napanoch was charged with welfare fraud, grand larceny and two counts of offering a false instrument for filing. He filed two application/recertification documents with DSS, not revealing he was self-employed/owner of a medical transportation business, which resulted in him receiving $3,588 in SNAP benefits to which he was not entitled.
Sean Boland, 37, of Saugerties, was charged with welfare fraud and four counts of offering a false instrument for filing. He filed both SNAP and Temporary Assistance applications, not disclosing that he was employed by a carpet company, which resulted in him receiving $6,323 in Temporary Assistance benefits to which he was not entitled.
Alfred Degroat, 42, of Port Ewen, was charged with welfare fraud. He had repeatedly signed housing documents filed with DSS, which contained false information and allowed unauthorized clientele to live with him in a motel room that was specifically provided to him for his shelter alone.
Jason Cavallaro, 33, of Kingston, was charged with offering a false instrument for filing and criminal possession of a forged instrument. He had recertified for SNAP benefits, falsified information on an employment information form and then forced his employer’s signature, which he presented to DSS.
Tammy Brown, 56, of Kingston, was charged with welfare fraud and six counts of offering a false instrument for filing. She had filed several SNAP applications with DSS and did not disclose that she was gainfully employed as a day care provider, resulting in her receiving $8,459 in SNAP benefits to which she was not entitled.
Carole LaPorte, 64, of Kingston was charged with welfare fraud, grand larceny and three counts of offering a false instrument for filing. She had filed three applications for assistance with DSS, not disclosing her rent income or her income from self-employment. As a result, she received $3,836 in SNAP benefits, $2,076 in Home Energy Assistance benefits and $3,975 in Heating Equipment Replacement benefits to which she was not entitled.
