BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A Maryland resident and two Washington, D.C., residents were indicted in an alleged scheme to obtain more than $600,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
Antonio William McCracken, 32, of District Heights, Maryland; Ricco Coley Young, 34; and Kimberly Lady Howard, 47, both of Washington, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts involving the unauthorized use, transfer, acquisition, alteration or possession of SNAP benefits.
The indictment alleges that from Jan. 2021 through at least Feb. 2026, the defendants obtained SNAP recipients’ EBT cards, card numbers and PINs in exchange for cash.
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They allegedly used the benefits to buy goods at retail stores in Maryland and elsewhere, then used the goods to prepare and sell food through Young’s catering company.
Prosecutors said the defendants often paid recipients about half the value of the benefits transferred.
The indictment alleges they used more than $600,000 in SNAP benefits for purchases intended for resale.
The case was brought as part of the Justice Department’s first National USDA Benefits and Program Fraud Enforcement Surge, a nationwide effort targeting fraud involving SNAP and other U.S. Department of Agriculture programs.
If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, and up to five years for the SNAP-related charges.
This post was originally published on Fox 45 by Sinclair Media Group.
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