NYWFIA NEWS PRESIDENT S MESSAGE. Inside This Issue

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Summer, 2013 Volum e 30, Issue 1 NYWFIA NEWS NEW YORK WELFARE FRAUD INVESTIGATOR S ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT S MESSAGE I m pleased and honored to be writing this message, as I have such great respect for

I have been involved in the organization a long time, and really admire Perry Wheeler, Jim Dadamio, Frank Decarlo, Billy Zilberman, Peter Kelly Jenik, Marion Clark, and all.

1 Summer, 2013 Volum e 30, Issue 1 NYWFIA NEWS NEW YORK WELFARE FRAUD INVESTIGATOR S ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT S MESSAGE I m pleased and honored to be writing this message, as I have such great respect for the awesome NYWFIA presidents who have gone before me. I have been involved in the organization a long time, and really admire Perry Wheeler, Jim Dadamio, Frank Decarlo, Billy Zilberman, Peter Kelly Jenik, Marion Clark, and all. They have all been dedicated to the growth and professionalism of our organization. I hope to continue their legacy, and meet the high standards they set by example. I d like to congratulate new board member Paula Reid, and welcome our new regional reps. I look forward to working with you. Our Summer Seminar in Callicoon was a great success, despite the shortcomings of the hotel. We offered training to 219 Participants, and the reviews of the training itself were mostly glowing. I think when given a letter grade no single training would have received a letter grade below a B, and that is a real testament to the quality and professionalism of the trainers. I certainly hope you had a good overall experience at the hotel. I want to take this opportunity to thank the rest of the board for their help. We had had some reservations about the hotel a month prior to the seminar, and asked them to mitigate the problems we foresaw. They promised to, and then just flatly refused to do what they had agreed to. In some ways we had no control over their policies (like the deposit billed for the rooms) as it was not a contractual issue between the organization and the hotel. Our talented board Members spent a lot of time and energy trying to fix the serious problems some of our attendees had. While some hotel staff were excellent at their jobs, and went above and beyond in accommodating us, some of the staff were ridiculously deficient in customer service skills. I ve been reassured that these issues will not come up at our next seminar in Lake Placid. I can also reassure you that we as a group will not be going to a hotel like Villa Roma anytime soon. Their Sales director kept telling people the Villa Roma is like a cruise ship on land. All I could think of was, by definition, a cruise ship on land is a shipwreck. Again, I hope Inside This Issue President s Message 1 Regional Training Dates 2 Monroe County 2 Legislative News 3 Stueben County 3 Montgomery County 4 Franklin County 5 Genesee County 6 Member News 6 you took home some good training, had fun at the banquet, and enjoyed the Monday Night activities. Special thanks go out not only to our partners at OCFS, OTDA, and PDP, but to Inspector General Leahy-Scott and her Chief of Staff, Michael Clarke, and especially Sullivan County Commissioner Randy Parker. Not only did Mr. Parker step up with no warning at our opening ceremony, but he also helped run our door prize raffle at the banquet. I hope you are looking forward to the fall regional training meetings. The agenda has been set, and is available on STARS.

Page 2 NYWFIA NEWS 2013 Regional Training Meetings Wednesday, September 18,

Airport Hotel, Cheektowaga Tuesday & Wednesday, October 22 and 23, 2013

Hotel, Albany Monroe County This card was seized by after a Monroe County DSS

2 Page 2 NYWFIA NEWS 2013 Regional Training Meetings Wednesday, September 18, 2013 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Syracuse Wednesday, September 25, 2013 Millennium Airport Hotel, Cheektowaga Tuesday & Wednesday, October 22 and 23, 2013 Westchester Marriott, Tarrytown Wednesday, October 30, 2013 Albany Marriott Hotel, Albany Monroe County This card was seized by after a Monroe County DSS Invesitgations worker set up a meet. They are pursuing possible civil penalty with the DA s office.

NYWFIA NEWS Page 3 Legislative News By Paula Reid On June 18, 2013, NYWFIA went to the State Capital to endorse a bill being presented by Senator Libous.

as well as prohibit them from using cash assistance from Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to buy tobacco, alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets or to gamble.

3 NYWFIA NEWS Page 3 Legislative News By Paula Reid On June 18, 2013, NYWFIA went to the State Capital to endorse a bill being presented by Senator Libous. This bill Public Assistance Integrity Act would keep welfare recipients from being allowed to use their EBT cards in strip clubs, casinos and other establishments that are known as sin establishments as well as prohibit them from using cash assistance from Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to buy tobacco, alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets or to gamble. This bill was being presented in response to the federal government requiring states to a regulation in place to combat this and if it is not in place by February 2014 the state could lose $120 million in aid. Stueben County 2 Linley residents; Lisa Butler and Bruce Butler were arrested and charges with 2 nd degree Grand Larceny, 2 nd degree Welfare fraud and Offering a False Instrument in the 1 st degree. These charges stem from failing to report income, filing false reports and defrauding the social service system of over $117,000. degree and Welfare Fraud in the 5 th degree. These charges stem from Ms. Gilmore using the Stueben Medical Travel unit for personal use and not medical reasons. 1 Hornell resident Kimberly Gilmore was arrested and charged with 1 count of Falsifying Business records in the 1 st

4 NYWFIA NEWS Page 4 Montgomery County Supervising investigator Michael j. Villa announces the following arrests: Stanley j. Piper of Amsterdam. Subject was arrested and charged with; one count of welfare fraud in the fourth degree (class E felony) subject failed to report workers compensation benefits and received $1, in snap benefits he otherwise would not have been entitled to. Jennifer Wright of Amsterdam. Subject was charged with 3 counts of offering a false instrument for filing first degree (class E felony) and one count of welfare fraud third degree (class D felony) subject failed to report her household composition correctly and failed to report unemployment insurance benefits. Subject received $7, in snap benefits she was not eligible for. Ileana Guerra of Amsterdam. Subject was arrested and charged with 1 count of offering a false instrument for filing first degree (class E felony) subject filed a false job search document in an attempt to maintain eligibility. John P. Stubley of Canajoharie. Subject was charged with one count of offering a false instrument for filing first degree (class E felony) subject failed to disclose multiple property ownership. Michael Pearsall of Amsterdam. Subject was arrested and charged with 3 counts of offering a false instrument for filing first degree (class E felony) 1 count of welfare fraud 4th degree (class E felony) subject failed to report online business and received $6, in snap benefits he was not entitled to.

Each agreed to repay the department for what they took, but most did not follow through with their agreement, so they were arrested.

5 NYWFIA NEWS Page 5 Franklin County MALONE A crackdown on alleged welfare fraud in Franklin County led to charges against 11 people Thursday. District Attorney Derek Champagne said an investigation within the County Department of Social Services turned up 14 clients who were allegedly receiving benefits they were not entitled to receive. Each agreed to repay the department for what they took, but most did not follow through with their agreement, so they were arrested. The people involved and their charges are: Shannon and Timothy Allen: Third-degree grand larceny for allegedly receiving $3,794 in medical assistance. John Baker: Misuse of food stamps for allegedly receiving $400 in benefits. Tammy Benware: Fifth-degree welfare fraud, petit larceny and nine counts of first-degree filing of a false instrument, for allegedly receiving $663 in day-care services. Jacklyn Krasselt: Seven counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, fifth-degree welfare fraud and petit larceny, for allegedly receiving $568 in day-care services. Steven Yelich: Misuse of food stamps and petit larceny for allegedly receiving $800 in food stamps. Yelich, Baker, Benware and Krasselt were all sent to County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail each and are to appear later in Malone Town Court. Stephanie Lopez: Fourth-degree welfare fraud and fourth-degree grand larceny, for allegedly receiving $1,280 in temporary assistance. She was sent to County Jail on $1,500 bail. Tanya Robistow: Fifth-degree welfare fraud, third-degree grand larceny, misuse of food stamps and two counts of offering a false instrument for filing, for allegedly receiving $7,147 in food stamps and medical coverage. She was released under the supervision of the Probation Department. David Slyman Jr.: Third-degree welfare fraud, grand larceny, misuse of food stamps and two counts of offering a false instrument for filing, for allegedly receiving $12,000 in temporary assistance and food stamps. He was released under the supervision of the Probation Department. Shawn Dustin: Fifth-degree welfare fraud, petit larceny and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, for allegedly receiving $275 in temporary assistance. He was sent to County Jail for lack of $500 bail. A warrant was also issued for Mary Ellen Farr of Utica, who was charged with two counts of forgery. The investigation also turned up fraudulent tax returns, Champagne said, and he asked residents to report people they suspect are receiving large tax refunds who clearly never paid taxes. Only through a community approach can we stop fraud against all taxpayers, he said. He sent information to the U.S. Attorney s Office about people who claimed self-employment, paid no income tax and received large refunds.

NYWFIA NEWS Page 6 Genesee County Sarah Elmore of Batavia pled guilty to one count of Petit Larceny in Batavia Town Court this afternoon, July 15, 2013. Ms.

Those charges were filed after an investigation by the Genesee County Department of Social Services revealed Ms.

6 NYWFIA NEWS Page 6 Genesee County Sarah Elmore of Batavia pled guilty to one count of Petit Larceny in Batavia Town Court this afternoon, July 15, Ms. Elmore had originally been charged in April 2013 with six counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1 st degree and one count of Petit Larceny. Those charges were filed after an investigation by the Genesee County Department of Social Services revealed Ms. Elmore had submitted various forms to the Genesee County Department of Social Services on which she concealed the fact that she was working as a selfemployed personal care aid and earning income from her business. As part of Ms. Elmore s plea deal she will be disqualified from receiving food stamp benefits and she faces up to a year in jail. At the time of her plea Ms. Elmore made full restitution to the Department of Social Services in the amount of $ NYWFIA.ORG LinkedIn Facebook Executive Board Members President John Melville john.melville@dfa.state.ny.us 1st Vice President Marie Snyder marie.snyder@dfa.state.ny.us Member News Deepest condolences to friends and family of Niagara County s Brian Kane. We are all saddened at his sudden passing. After 27 years with Monroe County Sue Phillips retired. Any other member news? Please inform your Regional Representative know so we can let the membership know. 2ndVice President Michael Grennan michael.grennan@hhsnassaucounty.ny.us 3rd Vice President Diana R. Maldonado ruizma@hra.nyc.gov.us Treasurer Dan McCann danielm@oswegocounty.com Recording Secretary Paula Reid paula.reid@dfa.state.ny Corresponding Secretary Regina Williams williamsregi@hra.nyc.gov

New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association PO BOX 83 OSWEGO, NEW YORK 13126 Regional Representatives Region One Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany

7 New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association PO BOX 83 OSWEGO, NEW YORK Regional Representatives Region One Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties. Mindy Herman, Amy Hart Region Two Monroe, Wayne, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Yates, Steuben, Schuyler and Chemung Counties. Mary O Dea, Lori Longwell Region Three St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, Oneida, Herkimer, Onondaga, Madison, Cayuga, Tompkins, Cortland, Chenango, Tioga and Broome Counties. Bob Janas, Lisa Spear Region Four Franklin, Clinton, Hamilton, Essex, Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Albany, Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie, Greene, and Columbia Counties. Kristine Ruggeri, Michelle McGeachie We re on the Web! Visit us at: Region Five Sullivan, Duchess, Ulster, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Bronx, Queens, Kings, New York and Richmond Counties. Ilene Reff, Thomas Ligouri

2014 County and Economic Development Regions Population Estimates

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