Jackson, Miss - Ronnieville Brown, 46, of Jackson, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on November 29, 2012 to serve 36 months in federal prison for making a false claim for benefits under the USDA Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as the food stamp program), announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. Brown was also ordered to pay $4,097.00 in restitution.

Brown filed an application for temporary assistance for needy families and food stamps with the Mississippi Department of Human Services in Hinds County, Mississippi. In his application, he stated that no member of his household had been convicted of a drug-related felony that was committed since August 22, 1996. However, at the time Brown executed this application for food assistance, he had been convicted in the Hinds County Circuit Court for the felony crime of sale of crack cocaine. He therefore received benefits to which he was not entitled. As noted at sentencing, Brown had 31 previous misdemeanor and felony convictions.

The case was investigated by the USDA Office of Inspector General in Jackson, Mississippi and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pat Lemon.

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