(WNY News Now) – CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, N.Y. – The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a Little Valley man accused of welfare fraud and grand larceny following a joint investigation with the county’s Department of Social Services.
According to Sheriff Eric A. Butler, 35-year-old Dustin T. Hawkins was charged on October 1, 2025, after investigators determined he allegedly failed to report income from scrapping while collecting public assistance benefits. Authorities say Hawkins fraudulently received $21,981.33 in assistance as a result.
Hawkins faces multiple felony counts, including Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (D felony), Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree (D felony), and ten counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (E felony).
The investigation stemmed from a July 2025 complaint filed by the Department of Social Services’ Program Integrity Unit. Deputies said Hawkins was taken into custody without incident at the Department of Social Services office in Olean, processed, and released with an appearance ticket.
He is scheduled to appear in City of Olean Court at a later date. As are all persons accused of a crime, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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