Press Release - Lance Ferguson arraignment

FROM:  MICHAEL KAVANAGH, CHIEF ASSISTANT

DATE:  OCTOBER 3, 2019

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. LANCE FERGUSON

Lance Ferguson was arraigned in Ulster County Court this morning on an indictment charging him with Murder in the Second Degree.  The Indictment alleges that Ferguson intentionally murdered Guy Andradez in the Town of Ulster on or about August 11^th, 2019. 

The Office of the Medical Examiner ruled Andradez’s death a homicide and determined the cause of death to be from multiple stab wounds. 

The case is scheduled for a hearing on December 12^th, 2019, to determine the defendant’s mental capacity to stand trial.

Press Release - social security scam calls

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE – CALLS CLAIMING TO BE THE S.S.A.

Scammers pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) may call saying your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity. Sometimes, the scammer wants you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it or will ask for money or gift cards to keep your SSN or bank account safe.

According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs…

·         Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. You don’t have to verify your number to anyone who calls out of the blue. And your bank accounts are not about to be seized.

·         SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Anyone who tells you to do those things is a scammer.

·         The real SSA number is 1-800-772-1213, but scammers are putting that number in the caller ID. If you’re worried about what the caller says, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213 to speak to the real SSA.

·         The local Social Security office (in Poughkeepsie) can be reached at 1-877-405-6747.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 845-340-3260.

Press Release - Irene Velez welfare arrest

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE – WELFARE ARREST

On September 23, 2019, Irene Velez age 37, of Kingston, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 4th degree, Grand Larceny 4th degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that Ms. Velez had filed a recertification with the Department of Social Services in July 2019 not revealing her households true earned income, resulting in Ms. Velez receiving $1,274.00 in SNAP benefits for the period August through September 2019, to which she was not entitled.

Ms. Velez was processed and released with an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.