Delaware State Attorney General Matt Denn announced Tuesday the arrests of seven Department of Health and Human Services workers. The workers, all female, were allegedly a part of a fraud ring which had netted nearly $1 million in Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, otherwise known as “food stamps.”
The seven individuals worked in unison to create fictitious identities whereby an EBT card could be created. Upon generation of the EBT cards, the state workers turned thieves would claim the cards for themselves to be used personally, or sold on the black market for a discount.
According to the Delaware State press release, “Two of the defendants were indicted and arrested last week, two others were indicted and remain at large, one was indicted and arrested previously and still faces charges, and two have already been convicted and sentenced.”
The identities of the individuals arrested this week are Detrich Simmons-Heath, 54, of Chestertown, Maryland (charged with Theft over $100,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct) Simmons-Heath was released on $6,000 unsecured bond; and Kamilah Laws, 39, of Wilmington (charged with Theft over $50,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct). Laws was released on $5,000 unsecured bond.
Two individuals were Indicted last week and still at large are Jo Ellen Edwards, 61, of Felton (charged with Theft over $100,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct) and Shirlene Davis, 29, of Newark (charged with Theft over $100,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct).
Previously arrested in the same investigation was Nicole Stevens, 43, of Dover. Stevens was arrested in November (charged with Theft over $1,500, Official Misconduct, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and four counts of Unlawful Use of a Payment Card for stealing $8,092).
Two more individuals were arrested, charged, and have already been sentenced to probation and restitution. Allison Rivera, 49, of Dover, pled guilty to Theft over $1,500, Unlawful Use of a Payment Card, and Falsifying Business Records, and was sentenced in April to two years of Level II probation. Rivera agreed to repay the $27,751.58 she allegedly stole.
Angelette Brown, 45, of Camden, pleaded guilty to Theft over $1,500, Unlawful Use of a Payment Card, and Official Misconduct and was sentenced to two years of Level II probation, ordered to do 240 hours of community service. Brown agreed to repay the $15,957 she allegedly took.
According to the state’s press release, the investigation has been going on for some time. “These indictments are the result of a months-long joint effort of prosecutors and investigators from the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Fraud Division and the Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust, along with the DHSS Audit and Recovery Management Services.” the statement reads. “The investigation eventually revealed more than $959,000 in total fraudulent benefits issued by several state workers.”
The seven individuals worked in unison to create fictitious identities whereby an EBT card could be created. Upon generation of the EBT cards, the state workers turned thieves would claim the cards for themselves to be used personally, or sold on the black market for a discount.
According to the Delaware State press release, “Two of the defendants were indicted and arrested last week, two others were indicted and remain at large, one was indicted and arrested previously and still faces charges, and two have already been convicted and sentenced.”
The identities of the individuals arrested this week are Detrich Simmons-Heath, 54, of Chestertown, Maryland (charged with Theft over $100,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct) Simmons-Heath was released on $6,000 unsecured bond; and Kamilah Laws, 39, of Wilmington (charged with Theft over $50,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct). Laws was released on $5,000 unsecured bond.
Two individuals were Indicted last week and still at large are Jo Ellen Edwards, 61, of Felton (charged with Theft over $100,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct) and Shirlene Davis, 29, of Newark (charged with Theft over $100,000, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and Official Misconduct).
Previously arrested in the same investigation was Nicole Stevens, 43, of Dover. Stevens was arrested in November (charged with Theft over $1,500, Official Misconduct, Forgery First Degree, Falsifying Business Records, and four counts of Unlawful Use of a Payment Card for stealing $8,092).
Two more individuals were arrested, charged, and have already been sentenced to probation and restitution. Allison Rivera, 49, of Dover, pled guilty to Theft over $1,500, Unlawful Use of a Payment Card, and Falsifying Business Records, and was sentenced in April to two years of Level II probation. Rivera agreed to repay the $27,751.58 she allegedly stole.
Angelette Brown, 45, of Camden, pleaded guilty to Theft over $1,500, Unlawful Use of a Payment Card, and Official Misconduct and was sentenced to two years of Level II probation, ordered to do 240 hours of community service. Brown agreed to repay the $15,957 she allegedly took.
According to the state’s press release, the investigation has been going on for some time. “These indictments are the result of a months-long joint effort of prosecutors and investigators from the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Fraud Division and the Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust, along with the DHSS Audit and Recovery Management Services.” the statement reads. “The investigation eventually revealed more than $959,000 in total fraudulent benefits issued by several state workers.”
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