RHODE ISLAND — Five individuals, including former state and city employees, have been arrested for allegedly committing social service program fraud, according to Rhode Island State Police.
Leng Chy, 33, of Cranston, a former state employee, is accused of underreporting her income and employment status to fraudulently obtain $8,498 in SNAP benefits from 2018 to 2022 and $32,602 in medical benefits from 2023 to 2025. Chy faces charges of obtaining property by false pretenses over $10,000, fraudulently obtaining public assistance over $500, and providing false documents to officials.
John Depasquale, 45, also of Cranston and a former Department of Health Services (DHS) employee, allegedly underreported his household income from 2022 to 2024, obtaining $4,949 in SNAP benefits. He faces the same charges as Chy.
Daniel Tuirok, 59, of Warwick, a former Cranston Highway Maintenance Division employee, is accused of underreporting his earnings from 2020 to 2021, receiving $36,342 in unemployment benefits. He faces charges of obtaining property by false pretenses over $10,000 and computer fraud.
Melissa Matias, 54, of East Providence, allegedly underreported her income from 2020 to 2025, obtaining $25,642 in unemployment benefits, and faces charges of obtaining property by false pretenses over $10,000 and computer fraud.
Aaron Sam, 40, of Central Falls, is accused of underreporting his earnings from 2022 to 2025 to receive $24,162 in unemployment benefits and faces the same charges as Matias.
State police say the arrests highlight the ongoing effort to detect and prosecute fraud in public assistance programs, protecting taxpayer-funded benefits for eligible recipients.
