Four local women are among more than a dozen people arrested Thursday in a welfare fraud sweep of Franklin County.

Joanne Sutton, 53, of Tupper Lake, was charged with third-degree welfare fraud and third-degree grand larceny. She allegedly received $2,845 in cash assistance and $358 in medical assistance she wasn’t entitled to, according to a press release from Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne.

Cayla Martin, 27, of Saranac Lake, was charged with third-degree grand larceny for allegedly defrauding social services of $5,640 in day-care benefits.

Lisa Simonson, 48, of Saranac Lake, was charged with petit larceny for allegedly receiving $891 in medical assistance that authorities say she wasn’t entitled to.

Angela Florence, 41, of Saranac Lake, was charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. No details on her case were provided. Florence was already in the Franklin County Jail after pleading guilty Wednesday in county court to drug sale and possession charges.

Champagne said authorities had warrants for 23 people wanted for alleged welfare fraud. Fourteen were in custody by the end of the day, and the other nine were still being sought by Malone and Saranac Lake village police, state police and investigators from Champagne’s office.

The arrests were part of a larger ongoing investigation involving almost 60 people who have allegedly been collecting fraudulent benefits through the Franklin County Department of Social Services over the past 18 months, the release said.

“Many of these benefits are supposed to be temporary, not a way of life,” Champagne said. “The goal of ‘living off the system’ needs to end, and these recent arrests are unfortunately only the tip of the iceberg of the fraud which we believe is being perpetrated against the system. Our system was created to help those in need, not to be a game to be manipulated.”

While these types of investigations typically lead to some people being found guilty of welfare fraud, Franklin County Social Services Commissioner Lesley Lyon said some people have been given the opportunity to pay restitution or disqualify themselves from public assistance to avoid criminal prosecution.

“The Department of Social Services has had approximately 30 individuals sign voluntary disqualifications in the past 6 months, and many individuals sign voluntary repayment agreements,” Lyon said. “So even though you may not see an individual’s name in the paper for a welfare fraud arrest, there may have been other arrangements made.”

Champagne said the investigation also revealed some people had received fraudulent tax refunds by filing returns related to self-employment with no documentation that they actually had a business or had paid taxes. At least six people are suspected of engaging in this conduct and that portion of the investigation is continuing, Champagne said.

Authorities encouraged people to report suspected welfare fraud to social services by calling 518-481-1804 or 518-481-1777.