A Smethport man was arrested for welfare fraud allegations after an investigation by two local police departments.
Timothy M. Comilla, 32, of 2982 E.Valley Road, was arraigned early Tuesday morning before District Judge William Todd on several misdemeanor charges and committed to McKean County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
According to court records, at 12:02 a.m. Tuesday at Walmart, Comilla and two women met a confidential informant who was working with Bradford City and Foster Township police.
One of the two women allegedly allowed Comilla to purchase $349.27 worth of goods from Walmart using her electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Then, Comilla sold the goods to the informant in exchange for $175, court records indicated.
Comilla and the two women eft Walmart in a vehicle, and an officer pulled him over after he turned west on East Main Street. The officer took Comilla — who was also driving with an expired driver’s license — into custody, according to court records.
It was unclear Tuesday night if charges would be filed against anyone else.
Comilla is charged with two counts each of buying/exchanging federal food stamps, access device fraud and fraudulent traffic in food orders, all first-degree misdemeanors, court records stated.
Comilla is scheduled to appear in Central Court on Nov. 16.
