Deputies in Ontario County have arrested a Canandaigua woman after an investigation into welfare fraud. The arrest happened on November 2nd at 3:00 pm, according to deputies.
Michelle L. Stafford, 43, of Canandaigua was arrested and charged with one count of fourth-degree welfare fraud, a felony, after it was found that she had received $2,398.05 in temporary assistance and SNAP benefits, which she was not entitled.
Deputies say that in early-September of 2015 the defendant moved out of New York and failed to notify the Ontario County Department of Social Services to report the move and close out her public assistance case.
Subsequently, she continued to collect and use Ontario County Public Assistance benefits until the end of January 2016. She was issued an appearance ticket and released to appear in Hopewell Town Court at a later date.
