Seneca County Sheriff Timothy Thompson reports that investigators have arrested multiple individuals over the past month in connection with various welfare fraud investigations.
Sheriff’s Investigators worked closely with the Seneca County Department of Human Services to identify several people who allegedly obtained public assistance benefits through fraudulent means. As a result of the coordinated effort, the following arrests were made:
Desire Gnau, 27, of Waterloo, was charged with Misuse of Food Stamps.
Maria Cordero, 65, of Seneca Falls, was charged with Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree, Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, and Misuse of Food Stamps.
Amber Watson, 27, of Waterloo, was charged with Misuse of Food Stamps.
Kaitlin Doby, 41, of Ovid, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Misuse of Food Stamps.
Alicia Rumsey, 37, of Ovid, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Misuse of Food Stamps.
Tamara Pearce, 42, of Waterloo, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Misuse of Food Stamps.
Alexia Hyer, 25, of Waterloo, was charged with Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and Misuse of Food Stamps.
Kevin Gilbo, 40, of Waterloo, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Misuse of Food Stamps.
Vanessa Grady, 36, of Seneca Falls, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Misuse of Food Stamps.
Michaela Trickey, 25, of Waterloo, was charged with Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree, Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, and Misuse of Food Stamps.
Gary Wells, 33, of Waterloo, was charged with Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree, Offering a False Instrument for Filing, and Misuse of Food Stamps.
Shelly Passalacqua, 51, of Seneca Falls, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Misuse of Food Stamps.
All individuals were issued appearance tickets and released. They are scheduled to appear in Waterloo Town Court at a later date to answer the charges.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
