Poughkeepsie Woman Accused Of Stealing Welfare Benefits

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — A Poughkeepsie woman faces a charge that she illegally took welfare benefits. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office said Rudaina F. Murshed, 39, of Poughkeepsie, was charged May 23 with third-degree welfare fraud, a felony.

An investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Detective Division, in conjunction with the Special Investigations Unit of the Dutchess County Community and Family Services Department, found that Murshed allegedly received about $5,315 in SNAP benefits between Feb. 1, 2015, and April 30, 2016.

SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and families. It was formerly known as food stamps.

The Sheriff’s Office said she allegedly stole the benefits by concealing the fact that she had other outside income, which would have made her ineligible to receive them.

After Murshed was process, she was arraigned in the City of Poughkeepsie Court and released on her own recognizance.

She is scheduled to reappear in court June 13.

Photo caption: Rudaina F. Murshed. Photo credit: Dutchess County Sheriff's Office.