GENESEE COUNTY/Three plead guilty in welfare fraud investigations

Brenda Gursslin, 47, of Batavia, was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge in Batavia Town Court on December 1, 2020, after she pleaded guilty to one count of petit larceny.

Gursslin was originally charged with 1 count of offering a false instrument for filing 1st and grand larceny 4th, all felonies, after an investigation by Genesee County Social Services Investigator Dakota Nicholson revealed that Gursslin failed to report income she was earning.

She subsequently received $1,775 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to. Gursslin has made full restitution of $1,775. She will also be disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.

Heidi Connolly, 45, of Batavia, pleaded guilty to one count of petit larceny in Genesee County Court on October 28, 2020.

Sentencing has been set for January 2020.

Connolly was originally charged with 7 counts of offering a false instrument for filing 1st and grand larceny 3rd, all felonies, after an investigation by Genesee County Social Services Investigator Robert Riggi revealed that Connolly failed to report income being earned by herself and her adult son, who was residing in the home.

Connolly subsequently received $3,631 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to. Connolly has made restitution of $3000 thus far. She will also be disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.

Ifrah Armstrong, 42, of Batavia, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted grand larceny 4th, an class A misdemeanor, in Batavia Town Court on December 1, 2020.

Sentencing has been scheduled for February 2021.

Armstrong was originally charged with 4 counts of offering a false instrument for filing 1st and grand larceny 3rd, all felonies, after an investigation by Genesee County Social Services Investigator Dakota Nicholson revealed that Armstrong failed to report income she was earning.

She subsequently received $5,208 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.

Armstrong has made full restitution of $5,208. She will also be disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.

Anyone wishing to report suspected cases of Welfare Fraud in Genesee County can contact the Genesee County Department of Social Services Investigation Unit at (585) 344-2580, ext. 6417 or 6541.

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