Five Women Arrested On Welfare Fraud Charges

A joint investigation by the Oneida County District Attorney's Office and the County Department of Social Services has led to the arrests of five women on welfare fraud charges.

The women are facing charges including grand larceny, offering a false instrument for filing, identity theft and misuse of food stamps.

They're accused of receiving temporary assistance or SNAP benefits they were not entitled to.  The benefits totaled nearly $7,000.

Three of the women are charged with failing to report their employment in a timely manner to the Department of Social Services.

Arrested were:

• Brandy Iannone, 36, Florida
• Nieco Rivers, 25, Utica
• Rosa Gonzalez, 40, Utica
• Seneca Thompson, 28, Utica
• Tabitha Lewis, 45, Rome

All of the defendants have been arraigned.