A Steuben County woman is facing felony charges after allegedly filing false documents to collect over $2,200 in welfare benefits she wasn’t entitled to.
Investigators arrested 34-year-old Melissa A. Potoeski of Cook Road, Woodhull, on Tuesday. The charges stem from documents she submitted between January and March.
Four felony charges filed
Potoeski is accused of offering a false instrument for filing, falsifying business records, committing welfare fraud, and grand larceny—all class E felonies. According to the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, she received $2,256 in public assistance by submitting false information to the Department of Social Services.
She was released with an appearance ticket and is scheduled to return to Village of Bath Court.
Sheriff Jim Allard thanked the county’s Department of Social Services Fraud and Legal Affairs Unit and the District Attorney’s Office for assisting with the investigation.
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