JOHNSTOWN - The Fulton County Department of Social Services' Investigative Unit on Wednesday announced the arrests of 10 county residents on welfare fraud charges, including one Gloversville woman accused of bilking the county out of nearly $24,000 in benefits.
Investigators said the arrests were made from May 2 to Aug. 9.
A unit news release indicated the following were charged:
Megan Arnold, 45, of Gloversville was charged July 30 with third-degree grand larceny, third-degree welfare fraud, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree welfare fraud. The release said she received $23,297 in temporary assistance, Food Stamp and child care benefits she was not entitled to. The release said Arnold failed to report Social Security benefits of a household member on her applications for temporary assistance, Food Stamps, and the Home Energy Assistance Program.
She was arraigned in City Court and sent to the county jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail pending further court action.
April Broughton, 39, of Gloversville was charged May 4 with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. The release said she falsified a job-search handbook in order to receive temporary assistance benefits. She appeared in City Court.
Patricia Fonda, 40, of Gloversville was charged May 4 with third-degree welfare fraud and third-degree grand larceny. The release said she obtained $3,279 in Food Stamp benefits she was not entitled to because she failed to report all household members on her applications for assistance. She appeared in City Court.
Timothy VanAlstyne, 41, of Gloversville was charged May 24 with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, petit larceny and fifth-degree welfare fraud. The release said he received $400 in HEAP benefits he was not entitled to because he failed to report rental income on his application. He appeared in City Court.
Randall Drake, 55, of Broadalbin was charged May 24 with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree welfare fraud. The release said he received $1,100 in Food Stamp benefits he was not entitled to. He was receiving Food Stamps in both Pennsylvania and New York state. He appeared in City Court.
Katrina Feasel, 30, of Gloversville was charged June 1 with petit larceny and misuse of a Food Stamp card. The release said she used $164 of someone else's Food Stamp benefits. She appeared in City Court.
Colleen Stuart, 40, of Gloversville was charged June 11 with fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree welfare fraud, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and obtaining public assistance by fraud. The release said she received $2,072 in Food Stamp benefits she was not entitled to after she failed to report wages of a household member on her application. She appeared in City Court.
Amy Williams, 48, of Gloversville was charged July 17 with fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree welfare fraud and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. The release said she received $1,639 in Food Stamp benefits she was not entitled to because she falsely reported information on her applications for Food Stamps and HEAP benefits. She appeared in City Court.
Russell Young, 26, of Gloversville was charged Aug. 9 with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree welfare fraud. The release said he received $1,769 in temporary assistance, Food Stamps and HEAP benefits he was not entitled to because he failed to report household members' unemployment benefits on applications. He was issued an appearance ticket for City Court.
Danyel Rowback, 34, of Gloversville was charged on Tuesday with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, third-degree grand larceny and third-degree welfare fraud. The release said she received $4,404 in Food Stamp benefits she was not entitled to because she failed to report all household income on her applications. She will appear later in City Court.
The unit also processed five Disqualification Consent Agreements, resulting in five people being disqualified from receiving Food Stamp benefits. They were each disqualified for 12 months, resulting in $8,460 in savings.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.