SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. — A former Suffolk County Department of Social Services examiner has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $78,000 in SNAP benefits, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney’s office.
Prosecutors say the defendant was responsible for reviewing existing SNAP cases to determine whether recipients remained eligible for benefits.
According to the DA’s office, an internal audit found that he allegedly opened seven SNAP cases for individuals who had neither applied for benefits nor requested public assistance.
Tierney’s office alleges those fraudulent cases were then used to direct tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized SNAP benefits.
“This defendant was entrusted with protecting the integrity of our public assistance system,” Tierney said in a statement, adding that the defendant instead allegedly abused that trust by creating fraudulent cases and directing unauthorized benefits.
Tierney also credited Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine’s office for referring the matter to prosecutors after county officials uncovered the suspected misconduct.
The case remains an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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