NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
BETH PHILLIPS
Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106
www.usdoj.gov../index.html
MARCH 2, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AVA WOMAN INDICTED FOR IDENTITY THEFT,
FOOD STAMP FRAUD
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Ava, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for identity theft and food stamp fraud.
Jan Ruston, 50, of Ava, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.
Today’s indictment alleges that Ruston used another person’s driver’s license and Social Security number to commit food stamp fraud.
The indictment also alleges that Ruston unlawfully acquired more than $5,000 in food stamp benefits by making false statements in her application. According to the indictment, Ruston falsely identified herself, using another person’s driver’s license and Social Security number. Ruston also falsely claimed that she was not fleeing to avoid prosecution for a felony offense, the indictment says, when in fact a warrant for her arrest had been issued for passing a bad check.
Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Missouri Department of Social Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at
http://www.justice.gov../index.html