RI DHS Supervisor, Daughter Charged With SNAP Fraud - Improperly Accessed $191K in Benefits
GoLocalProv News Team
RI DHS Supervisor, Daughter Charged With SNAP Fraud - Improperly Accessed $191K in Benefits
It is alleged that Nadine Jean Baptiste, 57, of Warwick, repeatedly conducted telephonic balance inquiries on EBT benefit cards, frequently changing the PIN numbers associated with those cards; it is further alleged that some of the individuals whose information was repeatedly accessed were either juveniles or individuals who were, at the time, homeless or incarcerated.
It is further alleged that SNAP EBT benefit cards with a value of approximately $191,000 were improperly accessed.
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About Case
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the investigation into this matter was launched in September 2023, when the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit received complaints from SNAP recipients via the Internal Audit Fraud Hotline alleging that they did not receive EBT benefit cards issued to them, which are commonly mailed to the address of the recipient or obtained in-person from a DHS office in the case of a homeless recipient.
Nadine Jean Baptiste and Octavia Jean Baptiste are each charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, and conspiracy.
Nadine Baptiste was arrested Tuesday at her place of employment; Octavia Jean Baptiste was taken into custody in the lobby of the Pastore Building Tuesday afternoon by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Nadine Jean Baptiste and Octavia Jean Baptiste made initial appearances before a U.S Magistrate and were released on unsecured bond. The matter remains under investigation.