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UPDATE: DCFS Investigation Leads to Two More Arrests for Felony Theft of Food Assistance Benefits by former Livingston Parish Residents

September 19, 2011

BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) announced today that two more arrests have been made as a result of an investigation of fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called Food Stamps) in Livingston Parish bringing the total arrests to ten charged with theft of more than $66,000 in SNAP benefits.

Cassie Evans, a 40 year-old former resident of Livingston Parish, was arrested on Friday in Jasksonville, Illinois and extradited to Louisiana by the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office. Evans is charged with Felony Theft for failing to report the father of her children, Gary Tribble, as a household member in order to obtain $9,978 in SNAP benefits from January to June of 2007 and from August 2007 to February 2010. Tribble also was arrested and charged with Felony Theft for providing falsified verification to DCFS in an effort to assist Evans in obtaining ineligible benefits.

Last week, DCFS announced eight similar arrests of individuals in Livingston Parish who obtained benefits they were not eligible for by failing to report spouses, household members or providing false verification to DCFS to obtain ineligible benefits.

Other arrests include Holly Solieau of Walker for Felony Theft of $20,146; Shanea Jones-Norris and Bradley Norris of Denham Springs for Felony Theft of $11,870; Crystal Reeves of Springfield for Felony Theft of $10,429; Rebecca Coats and Melissa Colloway of Denham Springs for Felony Theft of $9,152; and Kellie and Joseph Germany of Walker for Felony Theft of $4,669.

DCFS' Fraud and Recovery Unit investigated these cases, which were referred by the DCFS office in Livingston Parish. Arrests were made by the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office.

Last year, DCFS recovered more than $2.8 million in ineligible benefits from individuals who received them fraudulently.

To report suspected illegal receipt of public assistance benefits or illegal use of an EBT card, call toll-free 1-888-LAHELP-U (1-888-524-3578) and select option 7 from the main menu. To learn more, visit 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.

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