22 Accused of Welfare Fraud in Hudson Valley

Combined, the 22 allegedly defrauded the Hudson Valley of over $110,000 in welfare benefits.

The Sullivan County Welfare Fraud Task Force has made the following arrests:

Timothy M. Landis, 34, of Montgomery was arrested on an outstanding Family Court warrant for failing to pay child support. Landis is accused of owning over $5,500.

Scott J. Wrazen, 34, of Loch Sheldrake was arrested and charged with the Class E felonies of Falsifying Business Records in the 1st Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree, Class B Misdemeanor of Attempted Welfare Fraud in the 5th Degree, and violating the conditions of his parole. It is alleged that Wrazen submitted a fraudulent medical document to the Department of Family Services in an attempt to circumvent the Public Assistance

Malikia I. Gibson, 34, of Monticello was arrested and charged with the Class E felonies of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and Welfare Fraud in the 4th Degree. It is alleged that Gibson stole $1,316.70 in Public Assistance funds by failing to disclose that she was receiving income from Social Security.

Hope M. Evans, 24, of Liberty was arrested and charged with the Class A misdemeanor of Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 3rd Degree. It is alleged that Evans, while at the time of applying for services, was found to be in possession of a forged LDSS Shelter Verification Form.

The Ulster County District Attorney's Office announced the following arrests:

Toni DeJesus, 50, of Kingston was charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, Grand Larceny 3rd degree and 9 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st degree. DeJesus is accused of receiving $28,099 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to.

Jennifer Cole, 35, and Patrick Bousson Jr. 38, both of Lake Katrine, were charged with the misdemeanors of Welfare Fraud 5th degree and Criminal Use of a Public Benefit Card 2nd degree. Police allege both were selling their SNAP benefits for cash, in order to purchase narcotics.

Rebeca Martinez, 54, of New Paltz was charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree and 13 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree. Martinez received $10,944.00 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to, police say.

Natalie Skipp, 39, of Saugerties was arrested for Welfare Fraud 4th degree, 2 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and misdemeanor Making a Punishable False Written Statement. Skipp allegedly filed for and received Temporary Assistance benefits to house herself and children in the amount of $1,840.62 from the Department of Social Services during the month of July 2019, when in fact, her children have been in the care and custody of relatives in another state.

Jasmine Callwood, 30, of Kingston was charged with felony Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and misdemeanor Welfare Fraud 5th degree. Callwood filed an application for Temporary Assistance with the Department of Social Services in July 2019 and did not disclose that the gainfully employed father of her children, was residing with her in her household in Kingston, but advised Social Services that he was residing in the Bronx, officials say.

Samantha Irizarry, 28, of Ellenville was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with 2 counts of felony Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and the misdemeanors of Welfare Fraud 5th degree, Making a Punishable False Written Statement. Police allege Irizarry falsified official documents to extend her stay at a local motel that the Department of Social Services contracts with to provide housing and provided a false written deposition to the Department of Social Services denying her involvement in the incident.

Magdalene Corbin, 30, of Hurley was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felony of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and misdemeanor Welfare Fraud 5th degree. Officials say Corbin filed an application with the Department of Social Service for Temporary Assistance, not disclosing that her husband was residing with her in her household, but had listed him as an absent parent. Disclosure of her husband in the household would have required her to do mandatory searches for jobs or TA case closing.

Alan Hogan, 60 of Highland, was charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree and 2 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree. Hogan filed applications with the Department of Social Services between February 2018 and July 2019 and did not disclose that he was gainfully employed at a local auto repair shop, resulting in Mr. Hogan receiving $1,054.00 in SNAP benefits, $2,448.00 in Medicaid and $2,841.00 in Home Energy Assistance benefits that he was not entitled to, police say.

Dina Taylor, 41, of Gardiner was charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, 3 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree. Taylor allegedly received $3,817.00 in SNAP benefits and $13,501.29 in Medicaid benefits she was not entitled to.

Yvette Vega, 36, of Middletown was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, 4 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and Grand Larceny 3rd degree. Vega is accused of not disclosing owning/operating a business, as well as the income she received from that business, located in Orange County, NY. Due to the undisclosed income, Ms. Vega received $11,645.00 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.

Sean Westlake, 59, of Kingston was charged with the felony of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and misdemeanor Welfare Fraud 5th degree.

Walter Kaminski, 71, of Napanoch was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, Grand Larceny 3rd degree and 2 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree. Mr. Kaminski filed two application/recertification documents with the Department of Social Services, not revealing that he was self-employed/owner of a medical transportation business, which resulted in Kaminski receiving $3,588.00 in SNAP benefits, police say.

Sean Boland, 37, of Saugerties, was charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree and 4 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree. Boland allegedly received $6,323 in Temporary Assistance benefits he was not entitled to.

Alfred Degroat, 42, of Port Ewen was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the misdemeanor of Welfare Fraud. An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit and Housing Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that Degroat had repeatedly signed housing documents filed with the Department of Social Services, which contained false information and allowed unauthorized clientele to reside with him in a motel room, which was specifically provided to DeGroat to shelter him alone, by the Department of Social Services, police allege.

Jason Cavallaro, 33, of Kingston was picked up on an arrest warrant by Saugerties police and turned over to the Ulster County Sheriff's Department, charging him with felony Offering a False Instrument for Filing 2nd degree and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd degree. Police say Cavallaro had recertified for SNAP benefits, falsified information on an employment information form and then forged his employers signature, which he then presented to the Department of Social Services.

Tammy Brown, 56, of Kingston was charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud degree and 6 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing. Brown is accused of receiving $8,459 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to.

Carol LaPorte, 64 of Kingston was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, Grand Larceny 3rd degree & 3 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st degree. LaPorte filed three applications for assistance with the Department of Social Services, not disclosing her rental income or her income from self-employment, resulting in Ms. LaPorte receiving $3,836.00 in SNAP benefits, $2,076.00 in Home Energy Assistance benefits and $3,975.00 in Heating Equipment Replacement benefits that she was not entitled to, police allege.