Delaware’s attorney general announced Tuesday that seven former state employees stole nearly $1 million in federal food benefits.
All seven were employed by the Department of Health and Social Services and were responsible for issuing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.
The fraudulent EBT cards were taken by the suspects while working at State Service Centers in New Castle and Kent County, according to Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn. The cards were then used in two different ways.
“In some cases the individuals who were charged actually used the cards themselves and in other cases they sold them to third parties at a discounted rate over the face value of the card,” he said.
Denn declined to say how long this scheme had been going on before law enforcement discovered it. The Department of Health and Social Services discovered the fraud in 2014. The attorney general’s office began investigating last year.
Some of the seven suspects were collaborating in this scheme but Denn declined to say to what extent.
Two people are currently serving two years of probation and paying restitution as part of a plea agreement. Three others have been indicted and arrested. Two suspects remain at large.
Indicted and arrested last week were:
- Detrich Simmons-Heath, 54, of Chestertown, Maryland – charged with Theft over $100,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct. Released on $6,000 unsecured bond.
- Kamilah Laws, 39, of Wilmington – charged with Theft over $50,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct. Released on $5,000 unsecured bond.
Indicted last week and still at large are:
- Jo Ellen Edwards, 61, of Felton – charged with Theft over $100,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct.
- Shirlene Davis, 29, of Newark – charged with Theft over $100,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct.
Previously indicted, charges pending:
- Nicole Stevens, 43, of Dover, was arrested in November 2015 on charges of Theft over $1,500, Official Misconduct, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and four counts of Unlawful Use of a Payment Card for stealing $8,092.
Previously convicted and sentenced:
- Allison Rivera, 49, of Dover, pled guilty to Theft over $1,500, Unlawful Use of a Payment Card, and Falsifying Business Records, and was sentenced in April 2016 to two years of Level II probation, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $27,751.58.
- Angelette Brown, 45, of Camden, pled guilty to Theft over $1,500, Unlawful Use of a Payment Card, and Official Misconduct and was sentenced to April 2016 to two years of Level II probation, ordered to do 240 hours of community service, and forced to repay the $15,957 she took.
