Nationwide — Victoria Reese, a woman from Mississippi, was arrested after investigators said she collected more than $25,000 in SNAP benefits by giving incorrect information about her household and income. Her case remains open as state officials continue looking into the documents.
According to WLBT, authorities said Reese received a total of $25,698 in benefits over time because she did not report changes that would have affected her eligibility. The Mississippi Department of Human Services flagged the issue and alerted Jefferson Davis County deputies, who arrested her on October 3.
State investigators confirmed that the unreported details allowed Reese to stay on the program even though she no longer qualified. They are still going through the case paperwork and will decide later if more charges or repayment requirements are needed.
SNAP has been under extra attention during the federal government shutdown, with millions of Americans relying on the program for food assistance. Because of the uncertainty, state agencies have been reminding people to keep their information updated to avoid violations.
Mississippi officials encourage residents to report suspected SNAP fraud through the state hotline. They say identifying cases like this helps protect funding and ensures benefits reach households that truly qualify.