Ulster County Executive Mike Hein Announces Welfare Fraud And Misuse Of Food Stamp Benefits Arrests

Posted March 27, 2018

 

Ulster County’s “Zero Tolerance” Continues to Yield Results

Kingston, N.Y. – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein announces that four arrests were made under the County’s “Zero Tolerance” Anti-Fraud, Waste and Abuse Program.

“It is critical that Welfare benefits are made available to those individuals who truly need assistance,” said County Executive Hein.  “SIU, the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office are helping make sure that people who steal from the system are brought to justice, protecting Ulster County taxpayers as well as the limited pool of resources available to help those in need.”

Investigations conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigations Unit (SIU), in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney have resulted in the following arrests:

  • March 13, 2018, Falisha Lewis and Christopher Haight of Kingston, New York were arrested by the Ulster County Sheriff's Department and charged with misdemeanor Misuse of Food Stamps. It is alleged that Ms. Lewis, an inmate at the Ulster County Jail, provided Mr. Haight with her SNAP benefits card for him to use to access SNAP benefits while she was incarcerated. Social Service Law prohibits the transfer, improper use or possession of a benefit card or accessing SNAP benefits by someone not authorized to access them. Both Ms. Lewis and Mr. Haight were processed and issued appearance tickets for Ulster Town Court.

 

  • March 19, 2018, Nicole Redding of Ellenville, New York was arrested by the Ulster County Sheriff's Department and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree and two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. It is alleged that Ms. Redding failed to report income from August 2017 through January 2018.  As a result, she received $2,098.00 in SNAP benefits to which she was not entitled.  She was processed and released to reappear in Ulster Town Court at a future date.

 

  • March 22, 2018, Diandra Schleede of Kingston, New York, was arrested by the Ulster County Sheriff's Department and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree and sixteen counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. It is alleged that Ms. Schleede failed to report income from September 2016 to September 2017 and falsified Daycare authorization documents for payment.  As a result, she received $2,181.10 in Daycare benefits and $3,535.00 in SNAP benefits to which she was not entitled. Ms. Schleede was processed and released to reappear in Ulster Town Court at a future date.

 

  • March 23, 2018 Carl Phillips, an inmate at the Ulster County Jail, was arrested by the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department and charged with Misdemeanor Misuse of Food Stamps. It is alleged that Mr. Phillips provided his Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to a friend to use to access SNAP benefits which were in Mr. Phillips name while Mr. Phillips was an inmate at the Ulster County Jail.  Social Service Law prohibits the transfer, improper use or possession of a benefit card or accessing SNAP benefits by someone not authorized to access them. Mr. Phillips was processed and issued an appearance ticket for appearance in Ulster Town Court at a future date.

All reports of suspected fraud will be investigated.  To contact Ulster County’s dedicated Welfare anti-fraud and abuse hotline, please call 1-855-SIU-TIPS or 1-855-748-8477.