JAMESTOWN – A Fredonia woman allegedly received more than $70,000 in unentitled benefits between September 2011 and October 2016, according to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office.
A joint investigation between the Sheriff’s office and the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services revealed that Emily M. Farnham, 39, of Rood Road, Sinclairville, and Paul E. Farnham, of Norton Place, Fredonia, allegedly filed applications for assistance knowing that the information reported was incorrect.
Emily Farnham, as a result, allegedly received $41,928.44 in Family Assistance benefits, $31,464 in SNAP/Food Stamp benefits and $25 in HEAP benefits that she was not entitled to ($73,417.44 in total benefits received). She was charged with second-degree grand larceny, second-degree welfare fraud, misuse of food stamps and 15 counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.
Paul Farnham was charged with 13 counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and fifth-degree welfare fraud.
Both Farnhams will answer the charges in Jamestown City Court at a later date.
