Liberty, NY – The Sullivan County Welfare Fraud Task Force has made the following arrests:
- January 11, 2025 – Cara Green, 36, of Middletown, was arrested and charged with Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree, a Class D felony, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that between December 1, 2022, and February 29, 2024, Green stole $16,957.50 in Child Care Benefits from the Sullivan County Department of Social Services. It is also alleged that during the same time, Green was living in Matamoras, Pa. As a nonresident of New York State, she would not have been entitled to any Child Care Benefits issued from NY and particularly the Sullivan County Department of Social Services. Two New York State Applications for Certain Benefits (Child Care), filed by Green, indicated that she was living in Wurtsboro, when in fact she was living in Matamoras. Green was processed and released on her own recognizance to return to the Town of Liberty Court at a later date.
- January 18, 2025 – Shawn Burger, 45, of Woodbourne, was arrested for Welfare Fraud in the 4th Degree, a Class E felony, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that between May 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023, Burger was employed by a lumber company but was also in receipt of SNAP benefits from the Sullivan County Department of Social Services. On a recertification dated December 20, 2022, Burger failed to report his income from his employment. This unreported income during the time period indicated resulted in Burger stealing $2,253.84 in SNAP benefits to which he was not otherwise entitled. Burger was processed and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail pending a future court date in the Town of Liberty Court.
- February 19, 2025 – Beondi Mason, 44, of Binghamton, was arrested and charged with Welfare Fraud in the 3rd Degree, a Class D felony, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that between December 1, 2021 and November 30, 2022, Mason was in receipt of SNAP benefits issued by the Sullivan County Department of Social Services while failing to disclose that he was also in receipt of Workers Compensation Benefits during this same time period. Mason is also alleged to have failed to disclose truthful and accurate information about his household composition, specifically other members in the household who were gainfully employed. This unreported income resulted in Mason receiving $5,757 from the Sullivan County Department of Social Services to which he was not otherwise entitled. Mason was processed and released on his own recognizance to return to the Town of Liberty Court at a later date.
