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Welfare Fraud Task Force In Region Nabs Alleged Violators

Four recipients of welfare benefits in the region were nabbed for a variety of alleged crimes ranging from selling a SNAP card to failing to report income.

From left: Sage Pere, Zerlinda Velez, Andrea Mungin, and Lourdes Rivera

From left: Sage Pere, Zerlinda Velez, Andrea Mungin, and Lourdes Rivera

Photo Credit: Sullivan County Welfare Fraud Task Force

The four were charged in Sullivan County from August to October by the Sullivan County Welfare Task Force.

The four include:

  • Sage Pere, age 26, of Monticello, was charged on Friday, Aug. 23, for criminal use of a benefit card. It is alleged that Pere sold her SNAP benefit card, issued by the Sullivan County Department of Social Services, for $50 cash. The card had $100 worth of benefits on it. Pere was processed and released on an appearance ticket.
  • Zerlinda Velez, age 38, of Wurtsboro, was charged on Tuesday, Sept. 10, with offering a false instrument for filing and welfare fraud. It is alleged that between April and September 2022, Velez was employed by a private company while she received SNAP benefits from the Sullivan County Department of Social Services. On a recertification SNAP form dated Tuesday, May 10, 2022, Velez failed to report her income, which resulted in her stealing $1,000 in SNAP benefits. Velez was processed and released on an appearance ticket.
  • Andrea Mungin, age 57, of Rock Hill, was charged with welfare fraud and offering a false instrument for filing. It is alleged that between Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, and Thursday, August 31, 2023, Mungin stole $2,778 in SNAP benefits from the Sullivan County Department of Social Services by failing to disclose on her HEAP application that she received Social Security Disability Benefits during the same time. Mungin was processed and released on an appearance ticket.
  • Lourdes Rivera, age 47, of Liberty, was charged with grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing. It is alleged that between December 2019 and September 2023, Rivera stole $18,670 in SNAP Benefits from the Sullivan County Department of Social Services by failing to disclose that her husband was living in the household during the same time and was gainfully employed. Rivera was processed and released.

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