| 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 ARRESTS
OCTOBER 12, 2010
Hudson, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that the Columbia County Welfare Fraud Task
Force has arrested 8 individuals involved with Welfare Fraud. Arrested on October 6th were; 51 year old Pamela
Barnes of Gahbauer Road, Hudson, NY and charged with Welfare Fraud 4th degree, Grand Larceny 4th degree, 2
counts of Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st degree (all class E-Felonies) and Conspiracy 5th degree a class
A-Misdemeanor, 52 year old Daniel Barnes also of Gahbauer Road and charged with one count each of Petit
Larceny, Welfare Fraud 5th degree, Conspiracy 5th degree all class A-Misdemeanors and he was also charged
with Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st degree, 38 year old Karen VanAlstyne of Ten Broeck Avenue Hudson,
NY was charged with 10 counts of Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st degree, Grand larceny 4th degree and
Welfare Fraud 4th degree one count each, 27 year old Lauren Mabb of Chester Avenue Stottville, NY was charged
with 1 count of Offering a False Statement for Filing 2nd degree a class A-Misdemeanor, 36 year old Melinda Viola
of Wiltsie Bridge Road Ancram, NY charged with Welfare Fraud 4th degree, 2 counts of Offering a False Statement
for Filing 1st degree and Grand Larceny 4th degree, 43 year old Richard Roger of Maple Lane, Livingston, NY was
charged with one count each of Petit Larceny, Welfare Fraud 5th degree both class A-Misdemeanors, and one
count each of Welfare Fraud 4th degree and Grand Larceny 4th degree.
Sheriff Harrison said that both of the Barnes’, VanAlstyne, Mabb, Viola and Roger all turned themselves into the
Sheriff’s Office when requested to do so by Sheriff’s Investigator John Rivero who is assigned to the Welfare Fraud
Task Force and Deputy Sheriff David Rose. They were arraigned in the Hudson City Court by Judge Mark Portin.
Pamela Barnes VanAlstyne and Viola were each remanded to the county jail in lieu of $2,500.00 cash bail, Daniel
Barnes was held in lieu of $10,000.00 cash or $20,000.00 bond. Roger and Mabb were both released on their own
recognizance.
Arrested in the afternoon of October 6th on Arrest Warrants by Deputy Sheriff David Rose were 29 year old Giselle
Teegarden and 24 year old Kerry Munson both of Harry Howard Avenue Hudson, NY. Teegarden was charged with
Grand Larceny 4th degree, Welfare Fraud 4th degree and Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st degree.
Munson was charged with Petit Larceny, Welfare Fraud 5th degree and Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st
degree. Arraigned in the Hudson City Court by Judge Richard Koweek, both defendants were remanded to the
county jail. Teegarden was held on $1,000.00 cash or $2,000.00 bail bond. Munson was held on $250.00 cash or
$500.00 bond. All defendants were directed to return to city court at a later date.
Information regarding the fraud investigations was received in part from citizens reporting fraud to the Department
of Social Services Resource Center, the Sheriff’s Office TIPS line (518-822-8477) and to the Hudson Police
Department.
Sheriff Harrison said that since the Welfare Fraud Investigation Unit began April 1, 2009, the county has realized a
total savings of more than $290,912.69 to date and have arrested 26 individuals. Since January 1st the total
savings for just this year (2010) has been $145,447.60.
The Columbia County Welfare Fraud Task Force is made up of the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office,
Department of Social Services and the County Attorney’s Office. People applying or receiving public assistance
and/or businesses who intentionally defraud or attempt to defraud the Department of Social Services are targeted.
The most current investigations were conducted by Sheriff’s Investigator John Rivero, Social Services Investigator
Joshua Ryder and Assistant District Attorney John Hillman with assistance from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal
Investigation Branch and Hudson Police Department.
"DSS Commissioner Paul Mossman added that the Welfare Fraud Unit has and continues to exceed our
expectations in protecting the integrity of all Social Services programs. We will continue to aggressively pursue
any and all potential fraud, have zero tolerance, and take the necessary action that will ensure that services are
delivered to those who are qualified."
OCTOBER 12, 2010
Hudson, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that the Columbia County Welfare Fraud Task
Force has arrested 8 individuals involved with Welfare Fraud. Arrested on October 6th were; 51 year old Pamela
Barnes of Gahbauer Road, Hudson, NY and charged with Welfare Fraud 4th degree, Grand Larceny 4th degree, 2
counts of Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st degree (all class E-Felonies) and Conspiracy 5th degree a class
A-Misdemeanor, 52 year old Daniel Barnes also of Gahbauer Road and charged with one count each of Petit
Larceny, Welfare Fraud 5th degree, Conspiracy 5th degree all class A-Misdemeanors and he was also charged
with Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st degree, 38 year old Karen VanAlstyne of Ten Broeck Avenue Hudson,
NY was charged with 10 counts of Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st degree, Grand larceny 4th degree and
Welfare Fraud 4th degree one count each, 27 year old Lauren Mabb of Chester Avenue Stottville, NY was charged
with 1 count of Offering a False Statement for Filing 2nd degree a class A-Misdemeanor, 36 year old Melinda Viola
of Wiltsie Bridge Road Ancram, NY charged with Welfare Fraud 4th degree, 2 counts of Offering a False Statement
for Filing 1st degree and Grand Larceny 4th degree, 43 year old Richard Roger of Maple Lane, Livingston, NY was
charged with one count each of Petit Larceny, Welfare Fraud 5th degree both class A-Misdemeanors, and one
count each of Welfare Fraud 4th degree and Grand Larceny 4th degree.
Sheriff Harrison said that both of the Barnes’, VanAlstyne, Mabb, Viola and Roger all turned themselves into the
Sheriff’s Office when requested to do so by Sheriff’s Investigator John Rivero who is assigned to the Welfare Fraud
Task Force and Deputy Sheriff David Rose. They were arraigned in the Hudson City Court by Judge Mark Portin.
Pamela Barnes VanAlstyne and Viola were each remanded to the county jail in lieu of $2,500.00 cash bail, Daniel
Barnes was held in lieu of $10,000.00 cash or $20,000.00 bond. Roger and Mabb were both released on their own
recognizance.
Arrested in the afternoon of October 6th on Arrest Warrants by Deputy Sheriff David Rose were 29 year old Giselle
Teegarden and 24 year old Kerry Munson both of Harry Howard Avenue Hudson, NY. Teegarden was charged with
Grand Larceny 4th degree, Welfare Fraud 4th degree and Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st degree.
Munson was charged with Petit Larceny, Welfare Fraud 5th degree and Offering a False Statement for Filing 1st
degree. Arraigned in the Hudson City Court by Judge Richard Koweek, both defendants were remanded to the
county jail. Teegarden was held on $1,000.00 cash or $2,000.00 bail bond. Munson was held on $250.00 cash or
$500.00 bond. All defendants were directed to return to city court at a later date.
Information regarding the fraud investigations was received in part from citizens reporting fraud to the Department
of Social Services Resource Center, the Sheriff’s Office TIPS line (518-822-8477) and to the Hudson Police
Department.
Sheriff Harrison said that since the Welfare Fraud Investigation Unit began April 1, 2009, the county has realized a
total savings of more than $290,912.69 to date and have arrested 26 individuals. Since January 1st the total
savings for just this year (2010) has been $145,447.60.
The Columbia County Welfare Fraud Task Force is made up of the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office,
Department of Social Services and the County Attorney’s Office. People applying or receiving public assistance
and/or businesses who intentionally defraud or attempt to defraud the Department of Social Services are targeted.
The most current investigations were conducted by Sheriff’s Investigator John Rivero, Social Services Investigator
Joshua Ryder and Assistant District Attorney John Hillman with assistance from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal
Investigation Branch and Hudson Police Department.
"DSS Commissioner Paul Mossman added that the Welfare Fraud Unit has and continues to exceed our
expectations in protecting the integrity of all Social Services programs. We will continue to aggressively pursue
any and all potential fraud, have zero tolerance, and take the necessary action that will ensure that services are
delivered to those who are qualified."