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Published: Oct 24, 2007 - 03:30:29 pm CDT
Locals plead guilty to food stamp fraud Special to The Monitor-Herald From MS Dept. of Human Services The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, assisted by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS), Office of Fraud Investigations arrested Jackie Armstrong and Porchia Armstrong for food stamp fraud. Jackie and Porchia were found guilty on October 10 in the Calhoun County Justice Court. Judge A. G. Gibson ordered Jackie to pay $855 in restitution and $253 in fines and permanently disqualified her from the food stamp program. Porchia was ordered to pay $467 in restitution and $203 in fines and was also permanently disqualified from the program. The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department, assisted by the MDHS Fraud Investigators arrested Virginia A. Willis of Vardaman for food stamp fraud. September 28, Willis pled guilty and Justice Court Judge Garry Turner ordered her to pay $706 in restitution, $250 in fines and $153.50 in court costs. Willis was sentenced to 30 days in the Chickasaw County Jail suspended and put on six months probation. She will be disqualified from the food stamp program. “These arrests are part of MDHS’ continued efforts to rid the State of those who wish to misuse and abuse taxpayer dollars,” said MDHS Executive Director, Donald R. Taylor. “It is imperative that we continue to be good stewards of tax dollars. Every dollar misspent, misused or stolen is one dollar less available to the downtrodden and impoverished,” continued Taylor. The MDHS, Division of Program Integrity, Office of Food Stamp/TANF Fraud Investigations is charged with detection, investigation and verification of alleged fraud in federal public assistance programs administered by MDHS. During State Fiscal Year 2007, the office handled 2,681 suspected program violations and recovered $1,703,452. Ken Palmer, Director for the Office of Fraud Investigation warned that more arrests statewide are forthcoming.
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