A welfare fraud investigation in Cattaraugus County has led to felony charges being placed against a Little Valley woman. The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office arrested 33-year-old Nicole Lamberton on Monday after an investigation determined that she fraudulently received more than $27,000 in child care benefits by allegedly concealing and failing to report income in the household. The results of the investigation stem from a complaint filed in 2018. Lamberton is facing Class D felony charges of grand larceny in the 3rd degree and welfare fraud in the 3rd degree, and two Class E felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the 1st degree. Lamberton was taken into custody at the Cattaraugus County Department of Social Services without incident. She was processed and released with an appearance ticket.
