SULLIVAN COUNTY – The Sullivan County Welfare Fraud Task Force is continuing to crack down on fraud under the leadership of Joseph Tedora, Commissioner of the county’s division of Health and Family Services. The task force arrested five more individuals between September and November.
The Special Investigations Unit investigates suspected fraud and abuse of Public Assistance, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (Food Stamps), Home Energy Assistance (HEAP), and Daycare benefits received by recipients and vendors.
According to the county’s website, the unit is responsible for information intake, interviewing, conducting fieldwork, maintaining collateral contacts, reporting results, and prosecution referrals. The unit receives information through multiple matching reporting systems including Criminal Justice, Prison, Fugitive Felon, Warrant, Lottery, EBT, PARIS/MARIS, as well as other state and local government referrals. The unit receives referrals from many sources including anonymous tips from the public. Referrals are made to the Fraud Task Force for cases meeting the criteria of alleged fraud. The Task Force incorporates resources from the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office and the Special Investigations Unit at Family Services.
The Task Force arrested Lawrence Aiello on September 18 and charged the 57year-old from Wurtsboro. Aiello was charged with the Class E Felonies of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Filing a False Instrument in the First Degree. A joint investigation between Sullivan County Probation and the Welfare Fraud Task Force resulted in the allegation that Aiello stole $2,068.60 in publicly funded medical transportation by using Medicaid transportation to his probation meetings, the laundromat, and to visits with friends. Aiello was issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Liberty Court at a later date.
On October 11, Albert Ross, 64-years-old, of Loch Sheldrake was arrested and charged with three counts of the Class E Felony of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and Violation of Probation. It is alleged that Ross stole $210 in publicly funded medical transportation traveling to and from Sullivan County Probation. Ross was arraigned in the Town of Fallsburg Court and remanded to Sullivan County Jail on $500 bail.
On October 15, 45-year-old Cynthia T. Charneco, of Liberty, was arrested and charged with the Class E Felony of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and Class A Misdemeanor of Welfare Fraud in the Fifth Degree. It is alleged that Charneco stole $386 in Public Assistance benefits by failing to disclose that she was receiving child support from her child’s father. Charneco was issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Liberty Court at a later date.
Edith Morales, 52-years-old, of Bloomingburg, was arrested and charged on October 16 with the Class E Felonies of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree. It is alleged that Morales stole $1,107 in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits by failing to disclose that she was employed. Morales was issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Liberty Court at a later date.
On November 8, Jessica L. Irizarry, age 44, of Monticello was arrested and charged with the Class E Felonies of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree & Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. It is alleged that Irizarry stole $1,334.70 in publicly funded medical transportation by using Medicaid transportation for non-medical purposes. Irizarry was issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Liberty Court at a later date.
