Another Salamaca brother charged with welfare fraud at Murray Superette

56 others charged with fraud, misuse of food stamps

Taras Salamaca

MURRAY – A fourth Salamaca brother has been charged in a food stamp trafficking scheme and sale of untaxed cigarettes at the Murray Superette, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force announced today.

Taras R. Salamaca, 51, worked as an employee of the store. The resident of 2910 Kendall Rd. has been charged with one count of misuse of food stamps, food stamp program coupons, authorization cards and electronic devices (Class D felony); one count of grand larceny in the third degree (Class D felony); 1 count of scheme to defraud in the first degree (Class E felony); and one count of criminal sale of untaxed cigarettes.

Three other Salamaca brothers – Alexander, Myron and Olec – were all arrested on Oct. 27 following a 15-month investigation into a food stamp trafficking scheme and the sale of untaxed cigarettes from July 2014 to October 2015.

The Task Force and Orleans County Department of Social Services Welfare Fraud Unit have interviewed 130 people who have used their EBT cards over the past several years at the Murray Superette.

As a result of those interviews, Taras Salamaca was charged, along with 56 people who used their EBT cards in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for “SNAP” benefits and received untaxed cigarettes, alcohol, lottery tickets, gasoline or cash in exchange, the Task Force reported today.

Taras Salamaca was arraigned on Tuesday by Murray Town Justice Gary Passarell and released on his own recognizance. He is to appear in the Murray Town Court on March 9 at 6 p.m.

The 56 other people who were charged were issued tickets for welfare fraud and misuse of food stamps. They are to appear in Murray Town Court.

The investigation is ongoing with more arrests and charges pending, said Joseph Sacco, supervising investigator for the Task Force.