Julie L. Whitehead, 59, and Christopher Alford, 60, were arrested at their home on County Road 7 in Shortsville by the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office on May 13. The arrests followed a complaint by the Ontario County Department of Social Services, alleging the pair committed welfare fraud.
Alford was accused of receiving $2,955 in SNAP benefits he was not entitled to between December 2022 and October 2023. He allegedly failed to report changes in household income and composition, leading to a charge of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree. Whitehead was charged with four counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and one count of Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree. She allegedly failed to report $10,912.40 in income, resulting in $3,782.50 in improperly received benefits.
Both suspects were arraigned in Ontario County CAP Court. Alford was held in custody, while Whitehead was released on her own recognizance. They are scheduled to appear in Hopewell Town Court on June 11.
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