Operation Tax Burden Helps Utica Taxpayers
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: August 9, 2012
Operation Tax Burden strikes again, for the fourth time. The Oneida County District Attorney's Office is cracking down on people who collect welfare benefits when they are not truly in need. Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky tells us how people are abusing welfare programs and your taxpayers dollars.
"People who take benefits that they are not entitled too take away from those that are truly in need," says Bernard Hyman, Oneida County Assistant District Attorney.
But under Operation Tax Burden, these people are being stopped. Oneida County District Attorney's Office has made 24 arrests of those accused of welfare fraud.
"It's taxpayer dollars and every taxpayer who puts into the system has to work that much harder to get ahead and yet there are people who are cheating the system making it hard on everyone else," says Hyman.
Those accused have been collecting welfare benefits including food stamps, medicaid, public assistance and daycare. Area taxpayers are happy to hear about the crackdown
"I hate paying taxes if its not going to the cause it should go to and i feel those who cheat the system should be punished to the most they could," says Robert Drozynski, Utica resident.
some say those accused aren't only hurting area taXpayers they're also taking from the people that actually need welfare benefits.
"I'm homeless because of my mental status and for me to hear that people are doing this, it's no good, because it takes away from people like me who really need help," says Fonta Young, Utica resident.
Young says she has been trying to get on welfare for quite sometime and it's a difficult process
"People are stealing from you because they're not being honest with people or themselves, they're just being greedy and it's not nice," says Young.
"I believe they're cheating the sytem because they got they're own money, people are homeless, don't have a job, and they're taking people's money out of welfare and it's not right," says Rania Branch, Utica resident.
"People who need the help get the help, people who don't need the help shouldn't be taking taxpayer money and make the taxpayer endure higher burden than they otherwise would have too," says Hyman.
Authorities say those accused in this raid have received more than $126,000 dollars in illegal benefits. The District Attorney's Office says the investigation is ongoing and police are still attempting to execute 6 additional arrest warrants under the operation.
"People who take benefits that they are not entitled too take away from those that are truly in need," says Bernard Hyman, Oneida County Assistant District Attorney.
But under Operation Tax Burden, these people are being stopped. Oneida County District Attorney's Office has made 24 arrests of those accused of welfare fraud.
"It's taxpayer dollars and every taxpayer who puts into the system has to work that much harder to get ahead and yet there are people who are cheating the system making it hard on everyone else," says Hyman.
Those accused have been collecting welfare benefits including food stamps, medicaid, public assistance and daycare. Area taxpayers are happy to hear about the crackdown
"I hate paying taxes if its not going to the cause it should go to and i feel those who cheat the system should be punished to the most they could," says Robert Drozynski, Utica resident.
some say those accused aren't only hurting area taXpayers they're also taking from the people that actually need welfare benefits.
"I'm homeless because of my mental status and for me to hear that people are doing this, it's no good, because it takes away from people like me who really need help," says Fonta Young, Utica resident.
Young says she has been trying to get on welfare for quite sometime and it's a difficult process
"People are stealing from you because they're not being honest with people or themselves, they're just being greedy and it's not nice," says Young.
"I believe they're cheating the sytem because they got they're own money, people are homeless, don't have a job, and they're taking people's money out of welfare and it's not right," says Rania Branch, Utica resident.
"People who need the help get the help, people who don't need the help shouldn't be taking taxpayer money and make the taxpayer endure higher burden than they otherwise would have too," says Hyman.
Authorities say those accused in this raid have received more than $126,000 dollars in illegal benefits. The District Attorney's Office says the investigation is ongoing and police are still attempting to execute 6 additional arrest warrants under the operation.
