Former Johnston County DSS Worker Who Drained Clients’ EBT Accounts Sentenced To Prison

WILMINGTON, N.C. — A former Johnston County social services employee who admitted to stealing more than $100,000 in food assistance benefits from vulnerable clients has been sentenced to federal prison.

Shermeca McCrary, 46, of Goldsboro, was sentenced by a federal judge to six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $102,000 forfeiture judgment, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

McCrary previously pleaded guilty to theft of government property after investigators determined she used her position as a Johnston County Department of Social Services caseworker to access and drain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) accounts.

Authorities said McCrary unlawfully accessed client accounts between January 2021 and January 2024, diverting benefits intended for low-income families and converting at least $102,000 to her own use.

The scheme first came to light in December 2023, when a Johnston County DSS client reported their EBT account had been emptied without their knowledge. County officials launched an internal review and contacted the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office after identifying suspicious activity linked to McCrary.

Investigators later found that multiple SNAP accounts had been used to place online orders for goods that were delivered to McCrary’s home in Goldsboro. In February 2024, the sheriff’s office charged her with 50 felony counts related to the misuse of benefits.

Her case was later taken up federally, where she faced up to 10 years in prison. The six-month sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II in Wilmington.

U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said the case underscores efforts to crack down on fraud involving taxpayer-funded programs.

“We proudly join the President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in prosecuting this case,” Boyle said in a statement. “This office will continue to hold accountable anyone who steals from taxpayer-funded programs.”

Federal officials also pointed to the recent creation of the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, which focuses on investigating and prosecuting fraud involving government benefits.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Johnston County DSS Program Integrity unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes prosecuted the case.