A Pike County woman has turned herself in to authorities for defrauding a federal food assistance program for low-income people.
According to the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Katrina Harris received $69,881.00 in SNAP benefits by not reporting household income and composition accurately to the state. Based on the evidence obtained during an investigation into the suspected fraud, the case was referred to the Pike County District Attorney’s office.
The county’s district attorney secured an indictment on March 5. Harris turned herself in to MDHS and Pike County officials three weeks later.
“This is a great example of collaboration between our investigations team, county offices, district attorneys, and local law enforcement,” MDHS Inspector General Sandra Griffith said.
Agent Aaron Rushing of the MDHS Investigations Division — the branch tasked with detecting, deterring and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse — investigated the case.
“This investigation demonstrates the strengthened controls we have in place to identify, investigate, and eliminate fraud in our programs,” MOHS Executive Director Bob Anderson said.
