Erie County District Attorney John Flynn and the state's welfare inspector general said four people were arrested and arraigned on grand larceny charges Wednesday. They say the foursome stole more than $42,000 in public benefits. 

Investigators say they were either hiding their earnings on their application while working, or did not report all household income from others in the home.

"It not only hurts the taxpayers of New York State, which we are all one of, but it hurts the actual people who deserve the benefits in the first place," Flynn, (D) said.

Flynn says those arrested on Wednesday face two and a half to seven years in jail if convicted.