A Bradford woman was arraigned Monday before District Judge Dominic Cercone on allegations that she received more than $7,000 in SNAP benefits for which she did not qualify.
Tonie M. Westlake, 33, of 197 Jackson Ave., is charged with one count of fraudulently obtaining food stamps/assistance, a third-degree felony.
According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 5, a claims investigation agent with the Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution received notice of an overpayment referral from the McKean County Assistance Office. The referral was based on allegations that Westlake failed to report voluntary support that was to be reported to the Department of Human Services during a period from Nov. 20, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2019.
Westlake failed to report voluntary support that she received from the father of her child; she filled out multiple forms during the above period that only indicated her own income, the complaint alleged. In September 2019, the caseworker learned from the Office of State Inspector General that Westlake was receiving the additional support.
During a phone interview on March 3, Westlake told an investigator that she did not believe she had to report the voluntary income, as it was a gift, the complaint stated.
Court records indicate that she received $7,374 in SNAP benefits for which she did not qualify.
Westlake is free on $2,500 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is set for June 16.
