Gonic woman indicted in welfare fraud, bike theft

Jessica James (Rochester Police photo)

GONIC - A Gonic woman has been indicted in a welfare fraud case.

Jessica James, 33, of 143 Gear Road, has been charged with welfare fraud in that she falsely received food stamps and family assistance plan cash between July 2011 and March 2012 for saying her son lived with her when he didn’t, according to indictments handed down by a Strafford County Grand Jury last week.

James was also indicted in the theft of a bicycle after having had willful concealment convictions in both  Portsmouth and Rochester district courts in September 2012.

James faces three and a half to seven years in prison and up to a $4,000 fine in connection with the theft of the bike and seven and a half to 15 years in prison plus up to $4,000 in fines in connection with the welfare fraud charge.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, only that a grand jury has found sufficient evidence to move forward with a trial.