The Office of State Inspector General announced Tuesday that a felony complaint has been filed against a person for stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding from many Pennsylvania residents.
According to the announcement, the suspect took money from 17 Pennsylvanians’ EBT accounts, spending a total of “$8,237.09 in benefits across multiple states.”
“Stealing SNAP benefits is preying upon those in need,” State Inspector General Michelle A. Henry said in the statement. “We are committed to working hard every day to protect our most vulnerable residents from those who steal their SNAP funds.”
According to the criminal complaint filed by OSIG, the individual is accused of stealing SNAP funds and utilizing them to buy more than $8,000 in transactions in York, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland.
“The alleged theft occurred in February of 2023, and the victims live in Cumberland and Dauphin Counties,” the statement read. “It is alleged that despite the victims never losing possession of their EBT cards, the Defendant used their card information to make purchases.”
The unidentified suspect is charged with 35 felony and misdemeanor counts of access device fraud, theft by deceit, and identity theft.
Pennsylvanians who suspect their benefits have been taken should call their County Assistance Office (CAO) right away for help getting a replacement EBT card, and they should also report the crime to OSIG (1-800-932-0582) and their local police department.
Pennsylvanians are encouraged to change their PIN at least once a month, before each SNAP payment date, and to double-check their card before swiping it at a POS machine.