Press Releases
04/27/2023
Two Connecticut Women Charged with Stealing Nearly $17,000 from Public Assistance Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) – Two Connecticut women were recently arrested and charged, in unrelated incidents, with stealing a combined $16,983 from programs financed by the Connecticut Department of Social Services.
Kathleen Kennedy Nason, age 36, of Stafford Springs, and Irma Reyes, age 59, of Bridgeport, were arrested by Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney on separate warrants. Both women were charged with Larceny in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-122 and Kennedy also was charged with two counts of False Statement in the Second Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-157b.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit for Kathleen Kennedy Nason, Nason received $6,690 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that she was not entitled to receive from April 2022 to December 2022. Nason is alleged to have failed to report a legally liable relative along with the legally liable relative’s income, to receive SNAP benefits. According to the warrant, Nason signed two forms, which Nason knew were not true in order to intentionally mislead Connecticut Department of Social Services employees. Kennedy was released on a promise to appear in court and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court, G.A. No. 19, on May 9, 2023.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit for Irma Reyes, Reyes received $10,293 from two public assistance programs, which she was not entitled to receive from June 2020 to January 2022. Of the $10,293, Reyes received $4,395 in SNAP benefits and $5,898 in Temporary Family Assistance. Reyes is alleged to have received public assistance in Connecticut for her minor grandchild who was living in another state. Reyes was released on a promise to appear in court and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court, G.A. No. 2, on May 4, 2023.
The charges are merely accusations and Nason and Reyes are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Connecticut Department of Social Services investigative division submitted the arrest warrant applications for the arrests of Nason and Reyes. The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Susan Hatfield of the Statewide Prosecution Bureau.