Fulton County welfare fraud probe nets 23 arrests

PHOTOGRAPHER: Edward Munger Jr.

The arrest this week of a Northville woman is the latest in a four-month campaign to catch nearly two dozen people who authorities believe collected $80,000 in social services benefits they were not entitled to.

Ruth Dutcher-Rogers, 30, is accused of failing to report Social Security benefits when she applied for a nutrition program, according to a news release from the Fulton County Department of Social Services.

Investigators charged Dutcher-Rogers with third-degree grand larceny, third-degree welfare fraud and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

The charges against Dutcher-Rogers, who is accused of receiving $3,354 in benefits she was not entitled to, is the most-recent filing against a total of 23 people by the Fulton County Welfare Fraud Task Force Team, consisting of DSS investigators, the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office.

Welfare fraud charges were brought against the following individuals over the course of the last four months:

Carol Tarbox, 43, of Broadalbin; Valerie Gilboy-Murray, 23, of Durhamville; Rebecca Jones, 36, Clyde Jones, 47, Michelle Martorano, 30, Allan Mosher, 34, Jayson Ackernecht, 39, Robert Pabis, 37, Faith Owen, 40, Steven Welch, 30, Stephanie Welch, 32, Michelle Goodrich, 53, Jessica Swart, 31, and Stephen Kalkbrenner, 36, all of Gloversville; and Robert Mannix, 43, Carleton Frasier, 33, Nannette Ostrander, 45, Todd Heroth, 47, Theresa Corlew, 59, Melissa Hendricks, 36, Thomas Hendricks, 31, and Vicki Ross, 56, all of Johnstown.

Investigators report the welfare fraud unit has also disqualified 31 other people from receiving cash, child care or food stamp benefits for a combined total of 330 months — yielding a savings of $21,222 in Temporary Assistance, $5,550 in child care program benefits and $35,532 in food stamps.

Authorities ask anyone aware of ongoing welfare fraud to contact the Department of Social Services at 736-5620.