Newsroom

DCFS Investigations Lead to Seven Convictions for Food Assistance Fraud

Individuals Sentenced and Ordered to Pay Nearly $84,000 in Restitution

January 14, 2013

BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) investigation has led to the sentencing of seven Louisiana residents after receiving nearly $84,000 in ineligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

"DCFS works diligently to root out and investigate cases of abuse within our programs," said DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier. "Those who commit fraud will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Tyra and Mark Guevara of Slidell illegally obtained $34,580 in SNAP benefits from July 2006 to June 2011 after Mrs. Guevara failed to claim her husband as a household member. The 22^nd Judicial District Court imposed a suspended sentence of parish jail time and ordered each to be placed on five years' probation, pay all court costs and supervisory fee, submit to random drug screens and make full restitution to DCFS in the amount of $34,580.

Velma and Richard Clark of Shreveport pled guilty to illegally receiving $19,396 in SNAP benefits after Mrs. Clark concealed her husband's presence in the household. Mr. Clark assisted his wife by providing written documentation that he was living apart from the household. The Clarks were sentenced in the First Judicial District Court to six months jail time, which was suspended, and ordered to serve two years' supervised probation, pay all court costs, report to their probation officer as directed and make full restitution to DCFS in the amount of $19,396.

Daisy Marie Tillman of Shreveport pled guilty to illegally obtaining $13,510.00 in SNAP benefits from October 2002 to August 2006 after concealing her employment income. Tillman was sentenced in the First Judicial District Court to three years hard labor, which was suspended. She was placed on three years' supervised probation and ordered to pay a monthly $60 supervision fee and make full restitution in the amount of $13,510 to DCFS.

Patricia Johnson Dunn of Shreveport was sentenced in the First Judicial District Court to five years' supervised probation after pleading guilty to charges of illegally obtaining $11,084 in SNAP benefits. Dunn received these benefits after concealing her employment income. Along with probation, Dunn has been ordered to pay a monthly $60 probation supervision fee and make full restitution to DCFS in the amount of $11,084.

Linda Perry of Jackson was sentenced in the 20^th Judicial District Court and placed on six months' supervised probation after she illegally obtained $5,109 in SNAP benefits after failing to report her husband as a household member. Perry was ordered to pay fines, fees, court costs and make full restitution in the amount of $5,109 to DCFS.

Individuals are encouraged to report cases of suspected fraud in SNAP, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, the Child Care Assistance Program or the Kinship Care Program by calling the DCFS toll-free hotline at 1-888-LAHELP-U and selecting option 7 from the main menu or by visiting http://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/reportfraud.

SNAP is administered in Louisiana by DCFS and overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Read more about recipients' rights.