Niagara County, NY — Twenty people have been arrested in a welfare fraud investigation spanning several months across Niagara County.
According to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests were made in partnership with the Niagara County Department of Social Services and the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office. Authorities said the individuals were charged between October 2025 and Thursday, March 6.
Investigators allege the suspects submitted false documents or information to obtain public assistance benefits they were not entitled to receive. Charges listed in the sheriff’s office press release include Offering a False Instrument for Filing, Grand Larceny, Welfare Fraud, Possession of a Forged Instrument, and Petit Larceny.
Those arrested range in age from their early 20s to mid-60s and are from several municipalities, including Lockport, Niagara Falls, Lewiston, and Cambria. Officials said many of the cases involve multiple counts tied to allegedly fraudulent benefit applications or documentation.
Some of the individuals were charged with Grand Larceny in the 3rd or 4th degree, which prosecutors allege reflects the value of benefits improperly obtained. Others face Welfare Fraud in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th degree, depending on the amount involved.
The sheriff’s office did not release the total dollar amount tied to the alleged fraud but said the investigation remains active.
Officials say additional enforcement actions could occur as the case proceeds through the court system.
The arrests highlight ongoing efforts by local agencies to investigate suspected public assistance fraud and recover improperly obtained benefits.
For young workers and students relying on assistance programs, officials say accurate reporting of income and household information remains critical to eligibility.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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