| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
WELFARE FRAUD TASK FORCE UPDATE
September 23, 2009
Hudson, NY Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Arthur Baer reports that the Columbia County
Welfare Fraud Task Force continues to progress in the investigation and prosecution of Welfare Fraud.
Task Force members; Department of Social Services Commissioner Paul Mossman, District Attorney Beth
Cozzolino, Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. and County Attorney Daniel Tuczinski along with other various members
from their agencies, met yesterday, September 22, 2009, with Chairman Baer, Deputy Chairmen Phil Williams
and Roy Brown and Legal Committee Chairman Doug McGivney.
Chairman Baer reports that with the two recent arrests for Welfare Fraud this month, a total of seven people
have been charged with Welfare Fraud related crimes since April. The task force includes a Criminal
Investigator from the Sheriff’s Office who works with Social Services full time on welfare fraud investigations.
Several other investigations are active and will most likely lead to more arrests in the future. To date in
addition to the arrests, the county has realized a savings of just over $79,000 as fraudulent claims and other
public assistance abuses are uncovered and investigated.
Chairman Baer said that he is happy with the cooperative effort put forth by task force members and those
conducting the investigations. He said that the Task Force is doing what the board had hoped it would do
when it was developed.
The Chairman also reminds anyone who suspects Welfare Fraud to contact the Columbia County WELFARE
FRAUD HOTLINE 518-822-8477. The Chairman added that the county will be publicizing this hotline number
in the coming months through public service announcements in the local media.
September 23, 2009
Hudson, NY Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Arthur Baer reports that the Columbia County
Welfare Fraud Task Force continues to progress in the investigation and prosecution of Welfare Fraud.
Task Force members; Department of Social Services Commissioner Paul Mossman, District Attorney Beth
Cozzolino, Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. and County Attorney Daniel Tuczinski along with other various members
from their agencies, met yesterday, September 22, 2009, with Chairman Baer, Deputy Chairmen Phil Williams
and Roy Brown and Legal Committee Chairman Doug McGivney.
Chairman Baer reports that with the two recent arrests for Welfare Fraud this month, a total of seven people
have been charged with Welfare Fraud related crimes since April. The task force includes a Criminal
Investigator from the Sheriff’s Office who works with Social Services full time on welfare fraud investigations.
Several other investigations are active and will most likely lead to more arrests in the future. To date in
addition to the arrests, the county has realized a savings of just over $79,000 as fraudulent claims and other
public assistance abuses are uncovered and investigated.
Chairman Baer said that he is happy with the cooperative effort put forth by task force members and those
conducting the investigations. He said that the Task Force is doing what the board had hoped it would do
when it was developed.
The Chairman also reminds anyone who suspects Welfare Fraud to contact the Columbia County WELFARE
FRAUD HOTLINE 518-822-8477. The Chairman added that the county will be publicizing this hotline number
in the coming months through public service announcements in the local media.