Rockland Woman Accused in $4,600 Food Stamps Fraud

A Rockland County woman who claimed to be unemployed when she actually held two jobs has been charged in connection with the theft of more than $4,600 worth of Food Stamps, according to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe.

Marleny Fernandez, 31, of 2B Kensington Circle, Garnerville, has been charged with third-degree grand larceny, a felony, after an investigation by the Rockland County Special Investigations Unit and the county's Department of Social Services.

Zugibe said Fernandez is accused of withholding information about her employment as she received Food Stamps through the Department of Social Services. Fernandez is charged with reporting that she was unumployed when she actually worked for two separate lawn and tree maintenance companies.

The charges include the period of April 2010 to June 2011, with total funds involved reaching $4,676.

Fernandez was arraigned in Haverstraw Town Court by Judge John Grant and was released pending an April 1 hearing. If convicted, Fernandez faces up to seven years in state prison.