UPDATE: From WRTV:
Three former employees of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration face federal theft charges, accused of stealing nearly $200,000 from federal programs administered by the agency.This is "large-scale theft?" What about the nearly half billion dollars wasted to put money in the pockets of private contractors in a failed effort to privatize the state's welfare delivery system? I guess "large-scale theft" is in the eyes of the beholder. Wake us up, Joe, when your office decides to tackle real public corruption in this state.
U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett said Tuesday that the workers -- Robert Edwards, Timberly Snyder and Adina Lopez -- were involved in "large-scale theft."
The indictment alleges that Edwards, Snyder and Lopez created dozens of EBT cards, taking a total of $191,103.89 from food stamp funds and money used to provide temporary assistance for needy families, among other funding programs.
The thefts occurred from December 2008 through April 2010, Hogsett said.
Authorities said Edwards, Snyder and Lopez generated fraudulent benefit cards in the names of more than 100 people, 6News' Jack Rinehart reported
The cards were used to get money from ATMs and were used to buy various items, authorities said, and some of the cards were sold to third parties.
The thefts were discovered by state officials, but the investigation was turned over to federal authorities because the case involved federal funds.
"Anyone who steals from Hoosier taxpayers will be held strictly accountable by this office. This is particularly so when it is theft by public employees, people who have violated our trust," Hogsett said.
Edwards, Snyder and Lopez each face a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 fine.
