CORTLAND, N.Y. — Tessa J. Bell, age 33 of Cincinnatus, was arrested on Aug. 6 for 4th degree welfare fraud and 4th degree grand larceny — both felonies.
Bell is accused of receiving welfare benefits of more than $1,400 that she was not entitled to collect because she failed to provide required information about her income to the Cortland County Department of Social Services (DSS), according to a news release.
An investigation conducted by the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office and the Cortland County DSS found that in May and June the defendant failed to provide required income information to the department.
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Bell was issued an appearance ticket on her arrest date and directed to appear in the Cortland City Court on Aug. 21.
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