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Deputies: $70K theft uncovered during welfare fraud investigation

Authorities called their investigation “Operation Find the Dough,” and over the course of sixteen months say they uncovered a scheme to steal tens of thousands of dollars from the Wayne County Department of Social Services.

On Wednesday evening, The Wayne County Office of The Sheriff’s Welfare Fraud unit announced the arrests of Francis A. Steen, 43, and Alicia M. Sanders, 36 – both of Prospect Street, Savannah.

Investigators say they received several reports Steen and Sanders were operating businesses and not reporting the revenue to Social Services.

In a prepared news release, Sheriff’s investigators say the pair operated F-n-A’s Good Pizza and F-n-A’s Rhythm and Booze in Waterloo.

Between May 1, 2013 and September 30, 2018, investigators say the pair received:

*$23,957.00 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits,

*$676.00 in Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits,

*$44,594 in Medicaid benefits.

The Sheriff’s Office puts the total cost of the fraud at $69,227.

CNYCentral.com:
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