Cayuga County law enforcement arrested six people for various welfare fraud charges and are looking for nine more as part of a county-wide sweep Friday.
The Cayuga County District Attorney's office conducted an investigated in conjunction with Cayuga County Department of Social Services-Case Integrity Division and the Auburn Police Department. The investigation determined that fifteen people had fraudulently obtained benefits totaling $74,639. Arrested Friday were:
- Charmin L. Bell, 26 (top left), charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (felony) and Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree (felony). Bell was previously convicted of a misdemeanor.
- Christina L. Emerson (top center), 33, charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree, and Misuse of Food Stamps (felony). Emerson was previously convicted of an infraction.
- Roberto Jackson (top right), 40, charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (felony), Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree. Jackson has prior felony convictions.
- Christina Miles (bottom left), 27, charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (felony) and Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree (felony).
- Amber Smart (bottom center), 31, charged with two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First degree, Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree.
- Damien Smith (bottom right), 24, charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree. Smith has previous misdemeanor convictions and was already released from custody after posting a $10,000 bond on unrelated charges, including felonies.
Law enforcement officials are still looking for the following nine people:
- Stacey M. Earl (32)
- Stephanie M. Gilfus (31)
- Tiffany S. Harrell (34)
- Shalana M. Richardson (41)
- Myrna L. Rodriguez (36)
- Penny M. Strachan (39)
- Theresa M. Taylor (48)
- Alyssa C. Updike (27)
- Amanda Wild (26)
If you have any information about the whereabouts of any of the individuals listed above, contact the District Attorney’s Investigator Whitsett at (315) 294-8013 or the Auburn Police Department at (315) 253-3231.