RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT

1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs. Rachel Jennings

Grand Larceny and Welfare Fraud in the 3rd

9 Counts of Filing a False Instrument
Overpayment of $16,333.00 in Public Assistance
$ 9,535.00 in Food Stamps
$ 7,514.99 in Medicaid for
Total of $ 33,382.99

Received an anonymous phone call stating that client was

married and her husband was employed and they were not
reporting it.
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs. Nicole Richardson

Grand Larceny and Welfare Fraud in the 3rd
7 Counts of Filing a False Instrument
Overpayment of $7,347.50 in Public Assistance for niece’s case
$2,017.50 in Medicaid for niece’s case
$3,364.19 in Medicaid for Nicole’s family
$15,211.00 in Food Stamps
Total of $27,940.19

During an audit done by R.D.S.S. it was found that client was working as a daycare
provider and not reporting her income. It was also found out that the client continued
to receive PA, MA and FS for an OTG case for her niece after the niece left the
household.
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs. Paul Brewer

Grand Larceny and Welfare Fraud in the 3rd

Overpayment of $3,642.34 in Medicaid
$1,945.00 in Food Stamps
Total of $5,587.34

Received an anonymous phone call stating client was claiming

a child was in household when she was not. It was also learned
that client was receiving UIB’S and not reporting it.
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs. Michael Collett

Grand Larceny and Welfare Fraud in the 3rd

Overpayment of $4,304.30 in Medicaid

Received an anonymous phone call indicating that client was

claiming children were in the household when they were not.
The children were with him for some of the time. It was
learned that the client was receiving unemployment and had
been employed and not reporting it.
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs. David Safford

Grand Larceny and Welfare Fraud in the 4th

Overpayment of $2,870.00 in Medicaid

Received an anonymous phone call stating that client had

received a lump sum of $12,000 from Worker’s Compensation
and not reporting it.
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs Craig Peterson

Grand Larceny 3rd and Welfare Fraud

Overpayment of $6,102.36 in Medicaid

The investigation was initiated during recertification.

RFI indicated that Peterson had earned $13,287.63 which made
him ineligible.
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs Rolanda Brace

Criminal Possession of Forged Instrument 2nd (3cts)
Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st (5 cts)
Forgery 2nd (3cts)
Grand Larceny 3rd (3 cts)
Welfare Fraud 3rd

The investigation was initiated after the agency conducted an audit and cross-referenced
payments made to the vendor (Rochelle Edwards). The audit indicated the Edwards was part
of a food stamps case which was her father’s. This income was not reported. The father was
contacted regarding the daycare income. He stated not aware of this. Daughter, Rochelle was
contacted, who stated that she never provided daycare. Rochelle was shown copies of checks
and identified the signature of Rolanda Brace.

Brace is the aunt of Jessica Brace, for whom Rochelle Edwards allegedly was providing
daycare for. Further investigation revealed the Rolanda Brace conceived this plan and forged
Edward’s signature to all documents and applications.
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs Dalila Yeend

Welfare Fraud 3rd
Grand Larceny 3rd
7 Counts filing a false instrument

Client stated on application and for 6 recertifications that her six year old son
was in her household. PA worker received a call from a relative stating client
did not have physical custody of him. Investigation established child had been
in the custody of his godmother.

Client received $5,320.00 in Public Assistance benefits and $5,530.00 in food

stamps on her son’s behalf for a total overpayment of $10,850.00 in benefits
to which she was not entitled.
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs Michael Dunlop

Welfare Fraud 3rd
Grand Larceny 3rd
3 Counts filing a false instrument

At the recertification for Medicaid in an RFI disclosed client was

receiving Social Security benefits of $1,376.00 a month and had been
approved for benefits.

Overpayments of $6,492.82 in Medicaid and $2,576.00 in food stamps

were made for a total overpayment of $9,068.82 in benefits to which he
was not entitled.
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DSS
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
1801 Sixth Ave.
Troy, New York 12180
Tel: (518) 270-8639
Fax: (518) 270-8653

People vs. Melissa Blair

Welfare Fraud in the 3rd
Grand Larceny 3rd
6 counts filing a false instrument
Overpayment of $35,000.52 in Medicaid
$10,102.00 in Food Stamps
Total of $45,102.52 in Benefits to which they were not entitled

A Medicaid worker reviewing the recertification for a Medicaid case for Melissa Blair’s
children noticed that she had never applied for Child Support from the children’s father.
The worker called Ms. Blair and found the father to be living in the household. An
investigation revealed the father was listed in Ms. Blair’s Daycare Case, using his pay
stubs as well as hers to show that they were eligible for help with daycare, but he was
never added to the Medicaid case or listed in the household when she and the children
applied for and received Food Stamps.