Kim DeGeorge
January 23, 2025
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Buffalo man who admitted to welfare fraud was sentenced to probation.
Rodney C. Jones, 60, was sentenced to two years probation in State Supreme Court on Monday. He pleaded guilty in November to one count of Welfare Fraud in the Fifth Degree and one count of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree.
“This public assistance benefit program is reserved for low-income individuals and families who truly need help paying for food and other basic needs,” said Acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane in a release. "I want to thank the Office of the New York State Inspector General, Erie County Department of Social Services, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General for their work in this investigation. Together, we will continue to hold those who fraudulently obtain these benefits accountable.”
Investigators say Jones, from March 1, 2018 to February 22, 2022, fraudulently obtained more than $9,000 in New York State Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by not disclosing his wife's income on applications that he filed with the Erie County Department of Social Services.
Jones also admitted to fraudulently obtaining more than $72,000 from the Social Security Administration from July 1, 2014 to October 31, 2023.
"This fraud jeopardized the fundamental purpose of SNAP and Social Security which, for decades, have been a lifeline for New Yorkers facing hardship” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. "It is a betrayal of hardworking taxpayers to prioritize personal greed over the integrity of public welfare. I am grateful to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office for our ongoing partnership to ensure accountability for anyone who exploits systems designed to support vulnerable families.”
As part of his plea agreement, Jones paid the full restitution amount of $9,707 to the Erie County Department of Social Services and $72,459 to the Social Security Administration.
