New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott announced the arrest of a New York State Department of Health (“DOH”) employee on charges she defrauded welfare and public housing agencies to obtain more than $57,000 in benefits to which she was not entitled.
Kimberly Jones, 35, of South Pearl Street, Albany, was charged today with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree and nine counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, all felonies.
An investigation by Inspector General Leahy Scott found that Jones, from March 2013 through April 2016, repeatedly filed false documents with the Albany County Department of Social Services and Albany Housing Authority enabling her to receive more than $57,000 in welfare benefits to which she was not entitled. The charges allege that Jones filed applications for food stamps, Medicaid and subsidized housing in which she falsified her child care expenses and household composition. The alleged falsified documents included a forged letter from a child care provider stating that Jones paid $200 per week for child care, which she did not. The filings altogether enabled Jones to receive $35,478 in food stamp and Medicaid benefits, and $21,816 in housing benefits, to which she was not entitled.
Many of the alleged falsifications occurred while Jones was employed by DOH as a Medicaid Eligibility Examiner. Since late 2016, Jones has had the title of Secretary 1 at DOH.
“This defendant’s background should have made her fully aware of appropriate uses for welfare benefits, instead, she is now facing felony charges. This defendant chose fraud and theft to obtain critical benefits to which she was not entitled,” said Inspector General Leahy Scott. “I will continue to use all resources at my disposal to pursue corrupt government employees and to protect welfare benefits that are vital to those New Yorkers who are most in need of financial assistance.”
Jones was arraigned today in Albany City Court and released pending her reappearance on the charges Feb. 2, 2018 in Albany County Court.
Inspector General Leahy Scott thanked the New York State Police for their assistance with the arrest, and Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares and his office for prosecuting this matter.
The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
