ROME, N.Y. — New York State Police recently arrested a man from the town of Lee (Oneida County) for forging documents in an attempt to get rental assistance from the government.
State Police last week arrested 49-year-old Jamie L. McCoppin for 2nd degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and 1st degree filing a false instrument, both felonies.
The arrest stems from a complaint in May, when his former landlord discovered a forged document inside of the residence McCoppin previously rented. State Police say the landlord’s signature was forged on the document. With the assistance of the Oneida County Department of Social Services, it was determined that McCoppin file the forged document on April 23 of this year, in an attempt to get rental assistance and SNAP (food stamp) benefits. The application was denied and McCoppin did not receive any public money, State Police say.
McCoppin was processed and arraigned in Oneida County Centralized Arraignment Court, where he was released with a future return date to the City of Rome Court. State Police say they were assisted in their investigation by members of the Oneida County Department of Social Services and the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, Social Services Division.