Sixty-two (62) south Florida residents, all of whom were identified as public assistance recipients illegally obtaining cash from the government issued Electronic Benefit Tranfser (EBT) cards, were charged on Thursday, with 44 arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail. The remaining 18, all from Palm Beach County with one exception, are still being sought by authorities.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, DCF, and the U.S. attorney’s office said that the arrests were made following an 18-month investigation named, “Operation Easy Money”.
“The allegations in these cases involve individuals stealing the public’s money under the pretense of need”, said the State Attorney Michael McAuliffe.
In April 2009, FDLE arrested the operators of Billy’s Market in Belle Glade, Florida on theft and fraud charges and investigators subsequently began reviewing EBT transactions occurring at the store between January 2006 and April 2009. During this period, 61 public assistance recipients used food stamp benefits on their EBT cards to acquire cash and other items ineligible for purchase at Billy’s Market, investigators allege. Employees at the store would ring through a transaction that indicated a food staple purchase, but then unlawfully provide cash back to the food stamp recipients and retain a portion for themselves. In most cases, few or no food items were purchased.
The amount of benefits each food stamp recipient trafficked ranged from $2,000 to more than $14,000. Investigators estimate the individuals involved committed a combined $300,000 in food stamp fraud through the store during the three year period.
According to DCF, the amount of food stamp funds provided in Palm Beach County has increased 46 percent in the past year and currently totals $20 million. More than 81,000 households in the county receive assistance and the average household benefit is $255 per month.
Forty-four of the individuals were booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on Thursday. The remaining eighteen, investigators are still trying to determine their whereabouts. Anyone with information about their whereabouts should contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office at 561-688-3080.
See List of Persons Charged in “Operation Easy Money” Below:
Operation Easy Money – Status as of Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. The following individuals were arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail:
Samantha Addie, 29, of Palm Beach County
Eloise Anderson, 32, of Palm Beach County
Laterica Beckford, 25, of Palm Beach County
Marquetta Beckford, 33, of Palm Beach County
Terry Bell, 43, of Palm Beach County
Theresa Bent, 42, of Palm Beach County
Deshea Bouie, 27, of Palm Beach County
Johnnie Bradham, 29, of Palm Beach County
Allessa Buckner, 35, of Palm Beach County
Shanetta Bush, 31, of Palm Beach County
Tanekia Butler, 26, of Palm Beach County
Jacqueline Davis, 45, of Palm Beach County
Tawanna Davis, 35, of Palm Beach County
Terfera Davis, 34, of Palm Beach County
Hernika Dent, 26, of Palm Beach County
Deborah Drummer, 31, of Palm Beach County
Tameka Glover, 24, of Palm Beach County
Bobbie Hardnett, 30, of Palm Beach County
Sharlena Hickman, 38, of Palm Beach County
Latina Hunter, 35, of Palm Beach County
Sabrina Jackson, 34, of Palm Beach County.
Keisha James, 34, of Palm Beach County
Arnita Jones, 37, of Palm Beach County
Felicia Miller Johnson, 29, of Tampa
Temika Laidler, 30, of Palm Beach County
Letrail Mathis, 30, of Palm Beach County
Rasheka Billings, 25, of Palm Beach County
Yolanda Minus, 30, of Palm Beach County
Rosalyn McNeal, 25, of Palm Beach County
Sheneka Moore, 34, of Palm Beach County
Sybrena Monroe, 51, of Palm Beach County
Natielle Burroughs, 26, of Palm Beach County
Lashawndra Odom, 25, of Palm Beach County
Robin Otis, 48, of Palm Beach County
Pierrose Paul-Emile, 31, of Palm Beach County
Vanessa Perez, 25, of Palm Beach County
Shantoria Salter, 23, of Palm Beach County
Michelle Slappy-Cox, 34, of Palm Beach County
Nicole Spear, 33, of Palm Beach County
Monique Vickers, 28, of Palm Beach County
Cassandre Warren, 30, of Palm Beach County
Stephanie Williams, 35, of Palm Beach County
Sharon Willingham, 42, of Palm Beach County
Zena Willis, 23, of Hendry County
The following individuals are still being sought by authorities. Anyone with information about their whereabouts should contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office at 561-688-3080.
Natosha Bailey, 24, of Palm Beach County
Latoya Burroughs, 25, of Palm Beach County
Yolanda Cox, 40, of Palm Beach County
Latoria Davis, 25, of Palm Beach County
Matoria Davis, 25, of Palm Beach County
Taris Drummer, 24, of Palm Beach County
Kennesha Funderburk, 27, of Palm Beach County
Mikola Johnson, 37, of Palm Beach County
Barbara Jones, 36, of Palm Beach County
Chantell Jones, 30, of Palm Beach County
Shaquanda Jones, 26, of Palm Beach County
Andrian Morris, 33, of Palm Beach County
Tryshell Rouse, 30, of Hendry County
Sapphiran Rudgles, 29, of Palm Beach County
Chiquilla Tanksley, 27, of Palm Beach County
Karlicia Tyler, 27, of Palm Beach County
Jaquanna West, 29, of Palm Beach County
Melissa Wiley, 32, of Palm Beach County
