Four arrested on welfare fraud charges
NORWICH – Investigators arrested four people last week for unrelated welfare crimes, allegeding they stole nearly $14,000 from social aid programs designed to help the less fortunate.
The Department of Social Services Welfare Fraud Investigations Unit and the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people accused of failing to report changes in their living arrangements or income to DSS after originally being approved for some of the money.
Hope M. Astrologo, 35, of Afton, was charged with third degree welfare fraud and first degree offering a false instrument for filing, both felonies. Allegedly, Astrologo stole $8,583.80 in aid she was not entitled to.
Sean P. Cole, 28, of McDonough, was charged with fourth degree welfare fraud and first degree offering a false instrument for filing, both felonies. Allegedly, Cole stole $2,832 in aid he was not entitled to.
Misty S. Madrid, 39, of Pitcher, was charged with fourth degree welfare fraud and first degree offering a false instrument for filing. Madrid allegedly stole $1,682 in aid she was not entitled too.
Ashley M. Pollock, 22, of Norwich, was charged with fifth degree welfare fraud and second degree offering a false instrument for filing, both misdemeanors. Pollock is accused of taking $765.27 in aid she was not entitled too.
All the defendants were issued appearance tickets and released. They are scheduled to appear in Norwich City Court to answer to the charges at a later date.
Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Cobb reported that DSS investigators were in the process of reviewing submitted documents as part of their routine monitoring when they came across the allegedly fraudulent paper work. He said the agency contacted police investigators, who reviewed the information before moving forward with the arrests.
DSS Staff Development Coordinator Lois Lopresti supervises the Chenango County fraud unit and she said the three investigators currently working for the agency each had between 30 and 40 open cases that were being investigated for suspicious claims. She also said the recent arrests began as an investigation at DSS in early November.
The Department of Social Services Welfare Fraud Investigations Unit and the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people accused of failing to report changes in their living arrangements or income to DSS after originally being approved for some of the money.
Hope M. Astrologo, 35, of Afton, was charged with third degree welfare fraud and first degree offering a false instrument for filing, both felonies. Allegedly, Astrologo stole $8,583.80 in aid she was not entitled to.
Sean P. Cole, 28, of McDonough, was charged with fourth degree welfare fraud and first degree offering a false instrument for filing, both felonies. Allegedly, Cole stole $2,832 in aid he was not entitled to.
Misty S. Madrid, 39, of Pitcher, was charged with fourth degree welfare fraud and first degree offering a false instrument for filing. Madrid allegedly stole $1,682 in aid she was not entitled too.
Ashley M. Pollock, 22, of Norwich, was charged with fifth degree welfare fraud and second degree offering a false instrument for filing, both misdemeanors. Pollock is accused of taking $765.27 in aid she was not entitled too.
All the defendants were issued appearance tickets and released. They are scheduled to appear in Norwich City Court to answer to the charges at a later date.
Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Cobb reported that DSS investigators were in the process of reviewing submitted documents as part of their routine monitoring when they came across the allegedly fraudulent paper work. He said the agency contacted police investigators, who reviewed the information before moving forward with the arrests.
DSS Staff Development Coordinator Lois Lopresti supervises the Chenango County fraud unit and she said the three investigators currently working for the agency each had between 30 and 40 open cases that were being investigated for suspicious claims. She also said the recent arrests began as an investigation at DSS in early November.
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