A Swansea woman, convicted for making false statements on an application for federal food stamp benefits, was sentenced to 6 months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, and 5 years of probation, on April 1, 2011, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Shamika M. Coleman, 33, of Swansea, Ill.- pled guilty on October 4, 2010, to purposefully under-reporting her income and bank deposits totaling $136,760.58 during the time period beginning on January 1, 2007, continuing through August, 2009, when providing her truthful income and asset amounts would have made her ineligible for public assistance. The indictment alleged that by under-reporting her income, Coleman received $17,607 in federal food stamp benefits, as well as $14,226 in federal housing benefits for which she was ineligible. Coleman was ordered to pay $31,833 in restitution and a $100 special assessment, along with the costs of electronic monitoring.

The investigation was conducted by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Office of the Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.

 

 

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