NC Social Services Employee Sentenced To Federal Prison For Stealing Over $100k From SNAP Benefits

WILMINGTON, N.C. –A federal judge sentenced Deshaune White, a Wayne County man, to 6 months in federal prison and 6 months home confinement, followed by 3 years of supervised release for his role in a scheme to defraud more than $100,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and managed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and county Division of Social Services (DSS). He also must pay a Forfeiture Money Judgment of $102,733.80.

White, using his position and privileges as a Lenoir County Social Services case worker, unlawfully accessed the SNAP accounts of qualified individuals and converted $102,733.80 in government funds for his own personal benefit and use.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.

“This SNAP benefits fraudster is now a felon and will have to pay back his ill-gotten gains. Hopefully, he has learned the lesson – Cheaters. Never. Win.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

“It is an unconscionable betrayal of the public trust for a county employee responsible for administering federal food assistance to needy North Carolinian families to exploit his privileged access to recipient information to steal from those in need for his personal gain,” said Inspector General John Walk.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II sentenced the defendant. The USDA-OIG and the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.