NYS Inspector General Announces Significant Developments in Two Welfare Fraud Investigations

Today, New York State Welfare Inspector General Lucy Lang, in partnership with the Erie County District Attorney's Office, announced the conviction of one Buffalo resident and the guilty plea of another in two separate welfare fraud schemes. Both people stole thousands of dollars from the New York State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a vital program intended provide supplement the grocery budgets of low-income families so they can afford nutritious food. The successful investigation and prosecution of these cases will result in more than $16,000 in restitution to the State of New York, and more than $70,000 to the federal government.

Specifically, Carmella Miller, 39, was found guilty after a bench trial before Erie County Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens, to Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree and Welfare Fraud in the 3rd Degree, both Class D felonies, in connection with her fraudulent receipt of over $6,000 in SNAP benefits. Despite certifying on her application that she had no additional income, the Inspector General's investigation found Miller concealed multiple sources of income, including her employment with Edison Home Health Care, earnings as a Lyft driver, and her husband's income.

Miller's sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2025.

Also in Erie County Court, Rodney Jones, 60, pleaded guilty before Erie County Supreme Court Justice Paul Wojtaszek to Welfare Fraud in the Fifth Degree and Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree for fraudulently receiving over $9,000 in SNAP benefits from Erie County and stealing more than $72,000 from the Social Security Administration. Jones concealed his wife's income to obtain the SNAP benefits and has paid $9,707 in restitution to the Erie County Department of Social Services and $72,459 to the Social Security Administration.

Jones' sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2025.

"The US has provided some version of what we now call SNAP benefits at various times since the 1930s to provide nutritional meal access to hungry and struggling Americans. In fact, the very first recipient of the first food stamp program was a New Yorker in need," said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. "It is an affront to this great history of social welfare programs, and to those families who truly need and deserve them, that these two people put their greed above the integrity of the system and bilked taxpayers for money to which they were not entitled. We will continue to hold accountable people who undermine hungry New Yorkers and taxpayers alike."

"This public assistance benefit program is reserved for low-income individuals and families who truly need help paying for food and other basic needs," said Acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane. "I want to thank the Office of the New York State Inspector General and Erie County Department of Social Services for their work in this investigation. Together, we will continue to hold those who fraudulently obtain these benefits accountable."

Inspector General Lang expressed her gratitude to the dedicated team involved in these investigations, including Investigative Counsel Philip Druss, Investigative Counsel Jill Florkowski, Investigator Amanda Brennan, Investigator Erynn Migaj, Investigator Christopher Martello, Investigative Auditor Meghan O'Dell, and the leadership of Deputy Inspector General Jeffrey Hagen, Chief of Investigations Martin Stanford and Attorney-In-Charge of Welfare Matters, Andrew Weiss.

The Inspector General's Office also thanks the Erie County Department of Social Services, the United States Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Erie County District Attorney's Office for their collaboration in these investigations and prosecutions.

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