(WNY News Now) – A Buffalo resident has been found guilty of fraudulently obtaining thousands in social services benefits by concealing her marital status and household income.
Buffalo, N.Y. – State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens convicted Carmella Miller, 39, of Buffalo, of grand larceny and welfare fraud, both third-degree felonies, after a one-and-a-half-day non-jury trial. Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced the guilty verdict, stating that Miller knowingly deceived the Erie County Department of Social Services to unlawfully obtain Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits totaling $6,406 over nearly two years.
According to court records, between March 2018 and February 2020, Miller concealed her marital status and household income on re-certification applications, a deliberate act that misrepresented her eligibility for benefits reserved for those with low incomes. By omitting her spouse’s income, Miller was able to claim public assistance funds she would not otherwise qualify for.
The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Norvella C. Pendergrass from the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau, relied on evidence presented by the New York State Inspector General’s Office and the Erie County Department of Social Services. Confidential Criminal Investigator Natalie Perez contributed key findings that exposed Miller’s fraudulent actions.
Asserting the commitment to protecting taxpayer-funded programs, Acting DA Keane praised the collaborative investigation, noting that public assistance fraud diminishes resources meant for individuals and families in genuine need.
“This case highlights our continued commitment to upholding the integrity of public assistance programs like SNAP,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. “As we did here with our partner agencies, the Offices of the New York State Inspector General will continue to ensure accountability for anyone who would bilk taxpayers out of resources that rightly belong to hungry and struggling New Yorkers.”
Miller, who remains released on her own recognizance, is scheduled for sentencing on January 23, 2025. She faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.