Three Indicted in Maryland in SNAP Fraud Scheme Involving More Than $600,000 in Benefits
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced in Greenbelt that a Maryland resident and two Washington, D.C. residents have been indicted in connection with a fraud conspiracy to obtain more than $600,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Antonio William McCracken, 32, of District Heights, Maryland, along with Ricco Coley Young, 34, and Kimberly Lady Howard, 47, both of Washington, D.C., are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of unauthorized use, transfer, acquisition, alteration, and possession of SNAP benefits.
According to the indictment, from January 2021 through at least February 2026, the co-conspirators obtained SNAP benefits in the form of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, card numbers, and PINs that belonged to SNAP recipients, paying recipients for their account information, often at a discount of approximately 50 percent of the value transferred. They used the benefits to purchase goods at retail stores in Maryland and elsewhere, and used the goods to prepare and sell food through Young's catering company for personal gain. In total, the co-conspirators obtained and used more than $600,000 in SNAP benefits.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), Northeast Region. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, and up to five years for the unauthorized use of SNAP benefits. An indictment is not a finding of guilt, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USDA-OIG for its work in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Treiger and Darren Gardner are prosecuting the case.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Greenbelt 的美国马里兰区联邦地区法院南区法庭大楼（资料图）。美国联邦政府作品，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。Photo: The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Southern Division courthouse in Greenbelt (file photo). Work of the U.S. federal government, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
