Mississippi Department of Human Services has received full restitution in a welfare fraud case from Columbus, according to a MDHS press release.
The department’s Benefit Recovery Unit recovered $1,142.04 for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds following the conviction of former Clerical Support Employee Deidra Norris.
Norris was indicted for welfare fraud in August and pleaded guilty to stealing and activating SNAP cards meant for individuals in a drug rehabilitation facility, as well as other EBT (electronic benefits transfer) cards, the press release said.
“This is the culmination of hard work by divisions within our Office of Inspector General to not only identify and eliminate fraud, but to recover the misused funds so they can go to the people who need and qualify for them,” MDHS Executive Director Robert G. Anderson said in the press release.
Norris has been sentenced to three years of non-adjudicated probation, according to Lowndes County Circuit Court records.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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