Press Releases
05/17/2023
Two Hartford Women Charged with Stealing Nearly $22,000 from Public Assistance Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) – Two Hartford women have been arrested and charged, in unrelated incidents, with stealing a combined $21,614.00 from programs financed by the Connecticut Department of Social Services.
Yamaira Rodriguez, age 30, and Meesha Wallace, age 37, both of Hartford, were arrested on May 16, 2023 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 Making a False Statement in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-157b.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit for Yamaira Rodriguez, Rodriguez received $18,353.00 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that she was not entitled to receive from February 2020 to July 2022. Rodriguez was released on a promise to appear in Hartford Superior Court, G.A. No. 14, on May 19, 2023.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit for Meesha Wallace, Wallace received $3,261.00 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to receive from April 2022 to February 2023. Wallace was released on a promise to appear in Hartford Superior Court, G.A. No. 14, on May 19, 2023.
The charges are merely accusations and Rodriguez and Wallace 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 Rodriguez and Wallace. The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Susan Hatfield of the Statewide Prosecution Bureau.