East Haven Woman Arrested In NY Welfare Benefits Scam

Angie Colon, 46, of East Haven has been arrested and charged with conducting a scam using a fake New York state address to receive benefits from that state, according to the New York Daily News. 

Colon, who lives in East Haven, is accused of stealing more than $100,000 in benefits that do not belong to her.  She is also under investigation for filing for Connecticut Medicaid benefits while receiving the New York benefits, according to the article. 

Acting New York State Welfare Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott and New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. announced the arrest of Colon for stealing nearly $100,000 in public assistance benefits from New York. 
 
She was indicted on one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, one count of Welfare Fraud in the Second Degree, and three counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, all felonies, according to the report.

“The Defendant manipulated the system in order to steal public benefits meant for New Yorkers in need,” said Acting Welfare Inspector General Scott. “The Defendant both lived outside of New York and was gainfully employed in another state.  I will continue to investigate fraud of public assistance benefits programs to ensure that moneys intended to assist the needy are paid only to those entitled to these benefits.”

The Welfare Inspector General’s investigation revealed that although Colon had been living in Connecticut for more than 10 years, she collected New York public assistance benefits from 2009 through 2012.  Colon filed an application and re-certifications for public assistance benefits utilizing a Manhattan address in which she never lived.  Additionally, the Inspector General obtained evidence that since 2010, Colon has filed for Medicaid benefits in the State of Connecticut, the article said.
 
The investigation also obtained evidence that since 2010, Colon was employed by three companies in Connecticut.