County worker charged in theft of benefits

A Jamestown woman, who is a Chautauqua County employee, is facing numerous charges after allegedly stealing benefits from some of the clients she serves.

It was announced Wednesday that a 23-count indictment has been handed down by Chautauqua County Grand Jury against 38-year-old Amber Tibbetts. Tibbetts works in the South County Office Building and is a clerk in the Department of Social Services.

It is alleged Tibbetts used existing Social Service clients' information to issue benefit cards directly to herself. The investigation was initiated after two of the victims contacted Social Services to report suspicious activity on their benefits card.

Tibbetts has been charged with six counts of first-degree tampering with public records, four counts of second-degree forgery, six counts of second-degree identity theft, three counts of petit larceny and one count of fourth-degree corrupting the government.

She has pleaded not guilty and has been released on her own recognizance, as per state bail laws.

A second county employee was also charged with one count of fifth-degree welfare fraud. That person has not been identified. County officials said the individual is a senior case worker. That case is being handled in a local court.

The arrests were announced during a news conference Wednesday, attended by County Executive PJ Wendel, county Mental Hygiene Services Director Carmelo Hernandez, and First Assistant District Attorney Tom Rankin.

Wendel began the news conference apologizing to the public. "I want to say I'm sorry to the residents of Chautauqua County. I'm sorry that this involved our own employees and I'm sorry that this event took place," he said.

Even though it is alleged that an employee stole money intended for those who need assistance, Wendel called on the public to trust that justice will prevail. "Do not lose faith in the system, nor in the county government and the county system," he said.

Wendel said there is a program called the "Program Integrity Unit" which was used to arrest the two employees.

Wendel said the Program Integrity Unit has been used many times over the last five years, mostly to arrest individuals who steal other individuals' benefits. He said this is one of the first times the program has been used to arrest an employee.

According to Wendel from 2020-2025, the Program Integrity Unit has discovered $7.4 million worth of fraud cases. "That means they found situations where $7.4 million, of New York state taxpayer dollars, were used fraudulently and inappropriately," he said.

At least some of those stolen funds have been recovered, including funds allegedly stolen by Tibbetts.

Hernandez said typically the Program Integrity Unit is contacted after a client says his/her benefits did not come in or some other individual suspects fraud. "They'll start tracking where were those monies were spent and who had access to them," he said.

Rankin said he wants to "protect the integrity" of the case, so he was limited on what he was willing to share.

He said the two individuals were employed at the South County Office Building in Jamestown.

When asked how much money was stolen, Rankin replied, "I'm reluctant to give you a specific amount, but I can say she's been charged with felonies for a reason."

Rankin also declined what type of sentencing Tibbetts could face if found guilty, saying there's a lot of factors, including if any sentencing could be consecutive or concurrent.

Wendel stated that the investigation is continuing and they will continue to make arrests on this case or others of anyone who steals benefits from county residents.

According to seethroughny.net, Tibbetts has worked for the county since 2022.

Wendel said she no longer has access to county offices, but did note that she is "innocent until proven guilty."

Anyone who suspects possible fraud of benefits is asked to call 1-800-388-5365 or contact the Program Integrity Unit on the county website.