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Niagara County Sheriff's Department Welfare Fraud Unit |
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Niagara County Sheriff's Department Welfare Fraud Unit |
The Niagara County Sheriff's Department Welfare Fraud Unit is comprised of four Investigators, one Chief Investigator and one clerical staff.
The Welfare Fraud Unit works directly with the Department of Social Services Welfare Examiners staff, their immediate supervisor and the district attorney assigned to the Department of Social Services (DSS).
Case preparation is initiated through DSS and referred directly the the Welfare Fraud Unit for investigation into possible fraud. The Sheriff's Department is additionally responsible for investigation of applications of clients prior to getting on assistance, to check for and confirm their eligibility. The Sheriff's Department Investigators do all the field investigations, interview clients (recipients of public assistance), suspected of fraud as well as neighbors, family and all other leads. Investigators conduct surveillance of clients homes and potential work places, and check all household composition and resources of clients. Investigators are responsible to serve all welfare fraud case related subpoenas and the unit is responsible for application for and execution of all warrants of arrest including the three cities within Niagara County (Niagara Falls, Lockport and North Tonawanda). Investigators are responsible for all paperwork warranted to close a case. The detailed reports of their investigation and activity are reviewed by the Chief of the unit and turned over to the DSS for any additional information that they can provide on the client. When the results of any investigation show any type of fraudulent behavior by the client consistent with the definitions of the NYS Penal Law and Social Services Law, the completed investigations are turned over to the District Attorney's office to initiate prosecution, either criminal or civil.
It is important to realize that the goal of these investigations is - COST SAVINGS - to the tax payer and the recoupment of fraudulently obtained monies.
There is a 24 hour number at the Sheriff's Department and the DSS that people can utilize in reporting any one they feel may be illegally collecting benefits. The caller may remain anonymous.
Niagara County Sheriff's Department Hotline - 438-3363
Department of Social Services Hotline - 439-7850
The strong commitment by Sheriff Thomas Beilein and the DSS Commissioner Bonita Quaranta make these efforts viable to the taxpayers of Niagara County.
Niagara
County Sheriff's Department
5526 Niagara Street Ext., P.O. Box 496
Lockport, New York 14095-0496
(716) 438-3393, Fax (716) 438-3302
