Officials: 2 charged in $29G welfare scam

A county Department of Social Services worker and a welfare recipient were arrested on grand larceny and fraud charges in a $29,000 scam, Nassau County officials said Thursday.

County officials said an inquiry by the Department of Social Services investigations team uncovered the scheme after a tip from a confidential source. Information gathered by the department's team was then turned over to the Nassau police Crimes Against Property Squad.

Investigators said that social services employee Nicole Garcia, 28, authorized transfers of about $29,000 to a benefits card in the name of Tiara Clemons, 30, of 529 Sterling St., Uniondale.

The two then shared in the proceeds of the transactions, officials said.

Police said Clemons was not entitled to the benefits and that Garcia, of 85 N. Long Beach Ave., Freeport, knowingly authorized a "series of fraudulent monetary disbursements" between December 2010 and January 2011.

Clemons made ATM withdrawals of more than $15,000 from her account in increments of $300 to $500 until the account was empty, according to a news release.

Also, days before the December 2010 withdrawals began, officials said two identical deposits of $5,737.60 were transferred into Clemons' public assistance account. And then in January 2011, $3,750 was transferred into her account, officials said.

Garcia was fired on Sept. 19, when the county became aware of the alleged discrepancies, said Karen Garber, a spokeswoman for the agency.

County Executive Edward Mangano said in a statement the involvement of a county employee in such a scheme was an outrage.

"Taking public funds away from people who are truly in need of financial assistance is despicable and will not be tolerated," he said.

Department of Social Services Commissioner John Imhof said the agency was conducting a review of its "administrative and supervisory procedures and will take whatever actions are necessary to insure there is no repetition of this unlawful behavior."

Garcia is charged with grand larceny, tampering with public records, welfare fraud, falsifying business records, offering a false instrument, defrauding the government and official misconduct, police said.

Clemons is charged with grand larceny and welfare fraud.

Garcia and Clemons were arraigned Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead. Garcia was held on $500 bond and Clemons was released on her own recognizance. Both are scheduled to appear in court Friday.