An Addison man has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies after allegedly collecting over $4,600 in public benefits he was not entitled to, according to the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office.
Donald J. Hastings Jr., 37, was taken into custody on June 28 following an investigation by sheriff’s deputies and investigators. Authorities say Hastings submitted false documents to the Steuben County Department of Social Services between August 2022 and September 2024, leading to $4,635.13 in improperly obtained benefits.
Hastings is charged with offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and falsifying business records in the first degree, both class E felonies. He also faces third-degree welfare fraud and third-degree grand larceny charges, both class D felonies.
He was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court and released.
Sheriff Jim Allard thanked the Steuben County Department of Social Services Fraud and Legal Affairs Unit, as well as the District Attorney’s Office, for their assistance in the case.
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