A New York woman is facing felony charges after investigators said she received $50,525 in SNAP benefits by leaving out household and income information over nearly four years.
Tiffany Butler, 31, of Sprakers, was arrested June 11 after a joint welfare-fraud investigation in Montgomery County, according to WRGB/KATV.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said Butler is accused of receiving the benefits between August 2022 and June 2026. Investigators said the case involved information they believe should have been reported before those benefits were paid.
Butler was charged with eight counts of offering a false instrument for filing and one count of welfare fraud, all felonies, according to the report. The case remains an allegation, and no conviction has been reported.
Investigators Say Household and Income Details Were Left Out
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Investigators accused Butler of failing to report all members living in her home, along with all employment and earned income, according to WRGB/KATV.
The sheriff’s office said those alleged reporting failures led to Butler receiving SNAP benefits she was not eligible to receive. The reported total was $50,525.
The Charges Cover Nearly Four Years of Benefits
The reported timeline makes the case more substantial than a one-time paperwork dispute. Investigators said the benefits were received between August 2022 and June 2026.
WRGB/KATV reported that Butler was awaiting arraignment in Amsterdam City Court as of the station’s report. Hindustan Times, citing authorities, reported that the investigation involved the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Social Services, and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
The false-instrument charges are important to keep precise. Prosecutors would still have to prove in court that Butler knowingly submitted or filed false information.
SNAP Eligibility Is Tied to Household Size and Income
New York’s SNAP program page says eligibility and benefit levels are based on household size, income, and other factors. That is why investigators focused on who allegedly lived in Butler’s home and what income was allegedly not reported.
New York’s official SNAP guidance also says changes in household circumstances during a certification period may need to be reported depending on the reporting rules that apply to the household.
The state’s change-reporting materials list household and income changes among the kinds of updates that can affect a SNAP case. The exact reporting requirement can vary by household type, certification period, income situation, and the notices tied to a recipient’s own case.
The Case Is Now in the Court System
Butler’s arrest does not settle the case. The sheriff’s office allegation is that $50,525 in SNAP benefits was paid after household and income details were not fully reported.
Anyone receiving SNAP benefits who is unsure about reporting rules can check the notice tied to their own case, review New York’s SNAP guidance, or contact the local Department of Social Services directly before assuming a change does not need to be reported.