Depas Avoids Jail Time On Welfare Fraud Conviction

SPRING VALLEY, NY — Jermika Depas will avoid jail time for the welfare fraud she committed in 2016. Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe announced Wednesday that Depas, of 25 S. Madison Ave., Spring Valley, was sentenced by Hon. David S. Zuckerman to five years probation.

A one-time pal of Spring Valley Trustee Vilar Fonvil, she had been acquitted in their corruption trial in 2017 over accusations they had siphoned money from the village's camp program. She was arrested in 2018 and charged with welfare fraud.

The 32-year-old was convicted by a Rockland County jury of:

• One count of Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, a Class “D” Felony
• Three counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class “D” Felony
• Three counts of offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony

Depas, while living rent-free at 62 Branchwood Lane in Nanuet, filed three applications between March of 2015 and June of 2016 for welfare benefits with the Rockland County Department of Social Services. The applications contained letters ostensibly from Depas’ landlord which falsely confirmed that Depas was paying rent. The jury concluded that the signature of the landlord was a forgery and that Depas was not paying rent there.

As a result of this fraud, Depas received $4,700 in welfare benefits that she was not entitled to, prosecutors said.

In addition to the probation, she must pay $4,662.50 in restitution. Depas is ordered to pay the restitution to the Rockland County Department of Social Services over the course of her probation.

Executive Assistant District Attorney Richard Kennison Moran, Bureau Chief of the Special Investigations Unit for the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

SEE:

• Spring Valley Trustee Charged in Camp Transportation Scheme

• Rockland County Woman Convicted Of Welfare Fraud

Get real time Nanuet Patch news alerts and our free daily newsletter and visit us on Facebook.