Rockland County Woman Convicted Of Welfare Fraud

NEW CITY, NY — A 32-year-old who was living rent-free when she applied for and got rent subsidies has been convicted of welfare fraud by a Rockland County jury.

Jermika Depas of 25 South Madison Ave., Spring Valley, New York was found guilty 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, class “D” Felonies
• Three counts of offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, class “E” Felonies

“This defendant used deceit and fraud to feign a need for rent support and other public benefits. Taxpayer subsidized assistance is intended to help the truly needy," Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe said in the announcement Thursday. "This conviction will send a message to those who consider doing the same in the future. My office will continue to aggressively investigate andprosecute people who cheat the system.”

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, prosecutors said.

The jury concluded that the signature of the landlord was a forgery and that Depas was not paying rent to live at 62 Branchwood Lane. A fraud investigator from the Rockland County Department of Social Services testified that as a result of this fraud, Depas received $4,700.00 in welfare benefits that she was not entitled to.

Depas is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 30, and faces a maximum of 7 years in state prison.

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.