JULY 15, 2011 Six Arrested for Welfare Fraud - the Columbia ...

COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
85 Industrial Tract
Hudson, NY 12534
24 Hr Dispatch (518)828-3344
Fax (518)828-9088
Press Release
SHERIFF DAVID W. HARRISON JR.
Contact: Lieutenant James Andrews
(518)828-3344
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: July 20, 2011
SIX ARRESTED AFTER WELFARE FRAUD TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION
Greenport, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports
that Sheriff’s Investigator John Rivero and Deputy Sheriff David Rose
arrested six individuals on Tuesday, July 12 th
after an on-going
Welfare Fraud Task Force investigation. The total amount of money
stolen by these individuals was $23,728.20. They are charged with
filing false information, documents and/or intentionally not reporting
status changes for benefits they were not entitled too.
Investigator Rivero and Department of Social Services Fraud
Investigator Joshua Ryder, who are assigned to the County Welfare
Fraud Task Force, began the investigation of these cases in January of
this year.
The following is a list of those arrested along with the amount they
are charged with obtaining through criminal and/or fraudulent conduct.
Turning themselves in at the Sheriff’s Office Tuesday were 24 year old
Malana Morrison of South Front Street – Hudson stole $1,646.00; 27
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year old Jay O’Neil of Eagle Street Philmont stole $1,930.00, 20 year
old Elizabeth A. Poulter of Joslen Blvd. Hudson stole $1,226.00, 23
year old Denya Shumsky of Main Street Philmont stole $6,719.43, 30
year old Eva Brodsky of Jefferson Heights, Catskill stole $7,149.50
and 29 year old Jessica M. Carinci of State Route 20 – New Lebanon
stole $5,057.27. In addition to each one being charged with Grand
Larceny 4 th
Degree, and Welfare Fraud 4th both a class E-Felony;
Poulter and Carinci were additionally charged with Offering a False
Written Instrument, also a class E-Felony, Shumsky and Brodsky
received additional charges of Offering a False Written Statement,
Welfare Fraud 3 rd degree and Grand Larceny 3 rd degree both class D-
Felonies.
Arraigned before Hudson City Court Judge Richard Koweek, Morrison,
Poulter and Brodsky were ROR’d and ordered to return to city court
August 2 nd .
Also arraigned by Judge Koweek, Carinci was remanded to the county
jail in lieu of $5,000.00 cash or $10,000.00 bail bond, Shumsky was
released on $1,000.00 bail and O’Neil was remanded to jail in lieu of
$1,000.00 cash or bail bond. They were ordered to return to city
court at a later date.
The Sheriff’s Office, Department of Social Services, County
Attorney’s Office and District Attorney’s Office make up the Columbia
County Welfare Task Force. Since development of the task force by the
Columbia County Board of Supervisors in April 2009, the county has
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ealized a cumulative cost savings of $575,285.08 in funds that were
either prevented from being paid out, by over payment payback, by
preventing funds being paid out to fraudulent applicants, by cost
avoidance and funds recovered through the legal and criminal process.
The savings so far in 2011 alone is $80,747.99.
Sheriff Harrison said “Anyone who is looking to obtain public
assistance through fraudulent or criminal means, need not apply in
Columbia County.”
DSS Commissioner Paul Mossman added "The Welfare Task Force will
continue to work diligently and aggressively to protect program
integrity and the taxpayer's best interest."