GUILTY PLEA IN WELFARE FRAUD CASE

DELHI- Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced that Kellie Sanderson, 45, of Delhi, New York, pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony in violation of Section 158.15 of the Penal Law of the State of New York.

Beginning on January 1st of 2021 and continuing until February 27, 2022, Kellie Sanderson submitted several false applications that failed to disclose income to the Department of Social Services. As a result of her withholding her true income figures, Ms. Sanderson was overpaid a total of $9,219.00 in public benefits.

Investigator Richard Gerace of the Department of Social Services was referred to the case when a separate individual had been assisted in a potential elder abuse case. The individual, who is not being named, reported giving large amounts of money to Ms. Sanderson. After a review of Ms. Sanderson’s applications, Investigator Gerace discovered that Ms. Sanderson had never disclosed those gifts to the Department of Social Services.

On October 26, 2023, the Delaware County Grand Jury indicted Kellie Sanderson on a five-count indictment. On January 2nd, 2024, the Defendant pled guilty to one count of Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony. The Honorable Judge John Hubbard accepted Ms. Sanderson’s guilty plea and scheduled final sentencing for March 4, 2024.

This plea was entered pursuant to a negotiated disposition, and it is anticipated that the defendant will be sentenced to five years of felony probation supervision with a requirement to pay restitution.

District Attorney Smith commended the work of the Department of Social Services. “I want to thank Investigator Richard Gerace for his attention to detail in this case. His thorough work uncovered theft from our Delaware County taxpayers.   Public assistance benefits are for the neediest in our society, and any abuse of the safety net program will be vigorously prosecuted by my office.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Shawn J. Smith 

District Attorney 

Delaware County