JACKSON, Miss.--The program used to be called "food stamps". It's now called SNAP and, just as with it's former moniker, the program is still inviting to people who want to scheme to get your tax dollars for themselves. Agents with the Miss. Dept. of Human Services Program Integrity said they busted people across the state for stealing more than $159,000 worth of SNAP dollars.

This is from a press release from the Dept. of Human Services, explaining how the fraud schemes work:

SNAP and TANF fraud are usually the result of a client withholding income or household information that would deem them ineligible to receive benefits. Disqualification periods for SNAP fraud can range from 12 months for the first violation to permanent disqualification. Ineligibility is determined by state and federal mandates and can be ordered by the courts as part of sentencing. 

MDHS Director of Fraud Investigations Kenneth Palmer said, “SNAP is designed to help low-income people put food on the table. SNAP fraud, however, hurts everyone. The local store where purchases would have been made loses revenue and, of course, the family suffers because of the loss of benefits that would have allowed for appropriate food purchases.” 

Small “mom and pop” grocers are usually the type of stores targeted by those trying to defraud a system in place to help those who are at risk of food insecurity, such as the elderly and children. Local residents can help spot fraud in their grocery stores. If you suspect a store owner, clerk or client is misusing SNAP benefits, call the Fraud Hotline at 1-800-299-6905. SNAP fraud is a crime. 

NAME, LOCATION-RESTITUTION, FEES, FINES-SENTENCE-SNAP DISQUALIFICATION PERIOD 
Barbara A. Horton, Lena-$28,195-Three years suspended, five years supervised probation-12 months 
Amber L. Moudy, Canton-$13,437-Court withheld acceptance of the defendant’s plea pending successful completion of five years of probation-Permanent 
Vickie Dent, Braxton-$12,295-Three years suspended, five years supervised probation-12 months 
Shanisha F. Williams, Greenville-$9,756-Three years to serve concurrent with the federal sentence the defendant is currently serving-12 months 
Catherine Richmond, Leland-$8,901-18 months, not to exceed three years, Pre-Trial Diversion Program-12 months 
Datriene Y. Kennedy, Greenville-$8,667-Three years to serve on MDOC post-release supervision-24 months 
Robbin F. Simmons, Saltillo-$8,588-Three years MDOC Non-Adjudicated-12 months 
Angela E. Phinisee, Morton-$8,092-If defendant fails to adhere to Non-Adjudicated court order, then sentencing will be imposed of three years to serve-24 months 
Vergia Battle, Batesville-$7,824-Court withheld acceptance of the defendant’s plea pending successful completion of five years of probation-24 months 
Tiffany T. Thompson, Pearl-$7,817-Three years suspended, five years supervised probation-Permanent 
Romanda L. Williams, Lena-$7,796-Three years suspended, five years supervised probation-12 months 
Rosie Jones, Mathiston-$7,714-Serve one day in jail, remainder of the three year sentence on post-release supervision-Permanent 
Susan Alexander, Newton-$7,512-Three years, non-adjudicated with non-reporting/unsupervised probation -12 months 
Leola M. Bogan, Morton-$7,443-One year with six months to serve in the Scott County Jail and six months supervised house arrest-Permanent 
Janice D. Gammage, Meridian-$6,729-Three years suspended, three years supervised probation-24 months 
Kimberly L. Bailey, Horn Lake-$6,183-To serve three days, two years post-release supervision-12 months 
Kathleen H. Cassidy, Jackson-$2,095-Three years of post-release supervision-12 months 
Charity L. Harrington, Louisville-$196-TANF fraud