Liberty, NY – The Sullivan County Welfare Fraud Task Force has made the following arrests:
- November 21, 2025 – Olga Espinoza, 43, of Monticello, was arrested and charged with Welfare Fraud in the 4th Degree, a Class E felony, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that between April 1 and September 30, 2023, Espinoza was in receipt of SNAP Benefits issued by the Sullivan County Department of Social Services. It is also alleged that on March 30, 2023, Espinoza filed a SNAP Recertification with Sullivan County DSS and failed to disclose her husband’s employment (he resides in the home) during the time frame indicated. This failure to disclose truthful and accurate information to the Sullivan County Department of Social Services pertaining to income in the home resulted in Espinoza receiving $2,814 in SNAP Benefits to which she was not otherwise entitled. Espinoza was released pending a future court date in the Town of Liberty Court.
- December 16, 2025 – Tito J. Smith, 52, of Middletown, was arrested and charged with Welfare Fraud in the 4th Degree, a Class E felony, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that between May 1 and August 31, 2022 that Smith was in receipt of SNAP Benefits issued by the Sullivan County Department of Social Services. It is also alleged that on a SNAP Periodic Report dated July 26, 2022, Smith failed to disclose that he was gainfully employed during the time frame indicated for the SNAP Benefit period. This failure to disclose truthful and accurate information to the Sullivan County Department of Social Services pertaining to his employment and income in the home resulted in Smith receiving $1,853 in SNAP Benefits to which he was not otherwise entitled. Smith was released on an appearance ticket pending a future court date in the Town of Liberty Court
