10 Charged In Rockland County Social Services Fraud Investigation

Rockland County has charged 10 residents with filing false claims for social services benefits that cost the county more than $43,000, District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said today.

Zugibe said arrests and filing of criminal complaints came after referrals from the Rockland County Department of Social Services.

“The ongoing professional collaboration between the County's Department of Social Services and the Rockland County District Attorney has resulted in the detection of fraud in several Medicaid and other important social safety-net programs,” said Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef. “As a result of their diligence, swift and certain prosecution has dealt a severe blow to offenders.”

The Rocklanders charged in the investigation range in age from 24 to 58 and they are accused of submitting falsified applications submitted to the Rockland County Department of Social Services between 2008 and 2011, making it possible for each to fraudulently receive a variety of public assistance benefits, including Medicaid benefits, Social Security benefits and New York State unemployment assistance.

“Medicaid, food stamps and unemployment benefits are all finite resources of critical importance," Zugibe said. "These individuals not only cheated the system, but also cheated law-abiding Rockland County taxpayers who play by the rules. Any criminal found stealing from programs intended to help our county’s poor will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The residents charged today are accused of concocting various schemes to steal welfare benefits, including underreporting income, concealing home and/or business ownership, using false names and bogus social security information and providing misleading household composition.

Zugibe said that in one case, Jonathan Desvarieux, 24, of 311 N. Main St., Spring Valley, is accused of falsely reporting that he was unemployed when recertifying eligibility for Social Services/Medicaid benefits between September, 2009 and February, 2011. Zugibe said an investigation revealed  that he was working at a Rockland County Dunkin’ Donuts location during the same period.

Desvarieux received benefits totaling $12,887 to which he was not entitled, according to the charges filed against him.

The 10 charged today are variously accused of with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class “E” Felony and Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony.

A class “D” Felony is punishable by 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison and a class “E” Felony is punishable by up to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison.

The arrests resulted from an investigation conducted by the Rockland County Special Investigations Unit, with the assistance of the Rockland County Department of Social Services Special Investigations Unit, the New York State Department of Labor and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.

“Each and every day, residents needing assistance for themselves and their families contact us. It is our legal responsibility to make sure that those who need assistance and qualify for our programs receive appropriate services,” said Susan Sherwood, Rockland County's Commissioner of Social Services.
“People who receive benefits illegally take time, effort and resources that should be used for the growing number of truly needy individuals and families in our County.”

ROCKLAND COUNTY WELFARE FRAUD SWEEP

Astrel Auborg, 50
50 Springbrook Road, Nanuet
Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony - $6,569
and her husband
Georges Falaise, 48
50 Springbrook Road, Nanuet
Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony Grand Larceny

John Corry, 58
199 Goebel Road, New City
Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony - $3,146

Michael Lafuentes, 32
9 Overlook Road, New City
Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony - $6,743

Chana Landau, 33
63 Carlton Road, Monsey
Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony - $3,513
and her husband
Israel Landau, 43
61 Carlton Road, Monsey
Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony

Corwin Moore, 39
110 Union Road, Apt. 1E, Spring Valley
Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class “E” Felony - $2,002

Naftali Wagschal, 29
6 Horizon Court, Monsey
Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony - $4,167

Jonathan Desvarieux, 24
311 North Main Street, Spring Valley
Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony - $12,887

Angela Smartt, 44
5 George Street, Apt. 5, Spring Valley, NY 10977
Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony - $3,516