Marion County Woman Pleads Guilty To SNAP Fraud And Theft Of Government Funds

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Lateasha Monique Perry (34, Ocala) today pleaded guilty to three counts of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud and two counts of theft of government funds. Perry faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on each of the fraud charges and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each of the theft counts. She has agreed to make full restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the federal agency overseeing the benefit program. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a national program established to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among lower income families.    

According to the plea agreement and evidence presented in court, between June 2013 and February 2016, Perry received SNAP benefits via a debit card. Though these benefits only can be redeemed for certain basic food items, Perry repeatedly cashed out hundreds of dollars of her benefits at a local meat and poultry market in Marion County. This practice is strictly prohibited under both the program’s rules and federal law.

Federal agents analyzed SNAP redemption data and identified Perry as the person with the highest number of fraudulent transactions from the store. Subsequently obtained video surveillance images from the business showed Perry accessing her SNAP account at the counter, receiving large amounts of cash from store personnel, and then leaving with little or no merchandise. The estimated loss to the federal government exceeds $30,000 over 97 transactions. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of the Inspector General and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.