Investigations conducted by this month by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, resulted in the following arrests:
- On Nov. 27, Imani Heyward, 30, of Ellenville, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with the felonies of third-degree welfare fraud, third-degree grand larceny, and two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. Investigators allege that Heyward applied for and received SNAP benefits, then recertified for the SNAP benefits between December 2018 and October 2019 claiming three children residing in her household, when in fact the children have been residing elsewhere in the custody of relatives. Investigators further allege that Heyward also did not reveal that she was gainfully employed to the Department of Social Services, resulting in her receiving $4,729.00 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to. Heyward was processed and issued an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
- On Nov. 21, Kimberly Gary, 26, of Highland, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing (felony) and fifth-degree welfare fraud (misdemeanor). Investigators allege that on July 22, Gary filed an application for and began receiving SNAP benefits for a child who does not reside with her, but in fact has been residing elsewhere, in the custody of relatives, resulting in Gary receiving $696 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to. Gary was processed and issued an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
- On Nov. 19, Shawna Genosky, 46, and Ronald Searl, 51, of West Hurley, were arrested by Ulster County Sheriff’s deputies and each charged with three counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing (felony) and fifth-degree welfare fraud (misdemeanor). Investigators allege that between December 2017 and July 2019 the couple filed several applications for SNAP benefits, not disclosing the fact that Searl had been receiving self-employment income from his contracting business. Genosky and Searl were processed and issued appearance tickets for Ulster Town Court.
- On Nov. 6, Amber Gontz, 26, of Saugerties, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing (felony), fifth-degree welfare fraud (misdemeanor) and petit larceny (misdemeanor). Invesgigators allege that Gontz applied for and received SNAP benefits from the Department of Social Services for a child who does not reside with her, but in fact has been residing elsewhere, in the custody of relatives, resulting in Gontz receiving $569 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to. Gontz was processed and issued an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.
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