Two Individuals Charged with SNAP Fraud in Separate Instances in Pee Dee, Grand Strand
Two individuals in Pee Dee and Grand Strand, South Carolina, are now facing charges related to fraud after an extensive examination of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Accusations and Charges
The Department of Social Services (DSS) discerned the fraudulent activity and confirmed the accusations against three individuals from several counties including Horry County, Dillon County, and Greenwood County. The cases against these three people are unrelated.
Sasha Michelle Price, 36, from Dillon County and Robyn Davis, 45, from Horry County, have both been charged with ‘fraudulent acquisition or use of food stamps’, exceeding the value of $10,000. Davis also stands accused of forgery. The investigators assert that Price has received benefits worth $10,217.10 while Davis has benefited to the tune of $15,816, illicitly. Furthermore, the third suspect, Erin Barber, 48, from Greenwood County, is said to have defrauded the system for approximately $21,445 and is also currently facing a fraud charge.
Departments Express Commitment To Eliminate Fraud
“The South Carolina Department of Social Services, Office of Inspector General, is devoted to exterminating fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct in programs operated by the agency,” DSS said in an official statement.
Steps Forward and Potential Consequences
Price was booked at the Dillon County Detention Center and the case will be handled by the Fourth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. On the other hand, Davis, with a bond of $105,000, was booked at J Reuben Long Detention Center but was released on August 30.
Legal proceedings for these cases will continue and the individuals could face hefty fines, jail time, or both if found guilty of these charges. While the overall amounts fraudulently acquired may not seem considerable for these isolated cases, they highlight potential systemic flaws in the SNAP distribution system, which over time, could result in substantial losses. The DSS has not stated whether these instances will warrant a revisiting of system checks and balances.
Reporting SNAP Fraud
To curtail such occurrences, the public can play an important role. If anyone suspects fraudulent activities related to SNAP benefits, they are urged to report the matter on the DSS website, which could potentially aid in launching an investigation or corroborate evidence in existing cases.
