Woman Sentenced to 60 Months Federal Prison for Stealing Hundreds of Thousands in SNAP Benefits

INDIANAPOLIS- Desha Morris, 39, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to ten counts of mail fraud and two counts of benefits fraud. Morris was also ordered to pay $335,589.08 in restitution.

According to court documents, between April 2020 and July 2022, Morris orchestrated a large-scale fraud scheme to illegally obtain and profit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps.

SNAP is a federally funded program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families across the United States. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in partnership with state agencies. Eligibility is determined based on income, assets, and household size. In Indiana, applications are processed through the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), followed by an interview. Once approved, recipients receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card by mail, which functions like a debit card and can be used to purchase qualifying items, such as food.

As part of her scheme, Morris submitted numerous fraudulent applications using falsified documents and fake identities, including altered driver’s licenses, birth dates, and Social Security numbers.  Morris rented multiple residences as mailing addresses for the EBT cards. She used the names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers of unsuspecting individuals on the rental applications.

In some cases, Morris forged handwritten letters, allegedly from family members or friends of the fake applicants, to establish proof of residency and lack of income. She also impersonated applicants during phone interviews conducted by FSSA employees and kept detailed calendars and ledgers documenting interview dates and applicant information.

After acquiring the EBT cards, she either sold the SNAP benefits to others in exchange for cash or used the fraudulently obtained benefits herself.  In total, Morris obtained $335,589.08 in fraudulent SNAP benefits.

Morris has a long history of forgery, theft, and identity fraud dating back to 2006. Her offenses include using stolen identities to obtain vehicles and rental cars on credit, presenting false identification to police, and possessing counterfeit checks, credit cards, and fraudulent BMV documents.

“Desha Morris’s actions not only defrauded the taxpayers who fund the SNAP program but also harmed the most vulnerable members of our community by undermining the integrity of critical safety net services,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Her scheme jeopardized access to food assistance for those in genuine need and exposed innocent individuals to potential long-term damage to their credit and financial security. We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who abuse public programs for personal gain.”

“Postal inspectors are committed to protecting the integrity of the mail system and holding those who abuse it accountable,” said Felicia George, Acting Inspector in Charge. “I commend the dedication and collaboration of the investigators who uncovered this sophisticated scheme, and the prosecutors who helped bring this offender to justice.”

The United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration, and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.    

U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Wood and Carolyn Haney, who prosecuted this case.