Seneca County authorities have charged ten individuals with fraudulently obtaining public assistance benefits following a coordinated series of investigations conducted throughout March.
According to Sheriff Timothy Thompson, the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office worked closely with the Department of Human Services to identify multiple cases of welfare fraud. The investigations uncovered misuse of food stamps and false filings, leading to a wave of arrests involving residents from Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Interlaken, and Ovid.
Those charged include Benyamina F. Fox, 46, and Karen A. Frederick, 61, both of Seneca Falls, who face the most serious accusations, including first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and third-degree welfare fraud. Others charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud and food stamp misuse include Jessica G. Campbell, Patricia M. Barner, Kaylee E. Millerd, Ashton N. Finocchario, Cassidy A. Skillo—all from Seneca Falls—as well as Yupawan Georgiadis of Interlaken.
Jennifer L. Heitmann of Waterloo is also charged with third-degree welfare fraud, while Cinnamon S. Doane of Ovid faces similar charges as Fox and Frederick.
All ten individuals are scheduled to appear in Waterloo Town Court. Authorities emphasized that each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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