Lafayette woman charged with welfare fraud
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – A Lafayette woman faces welfare fraud charges after prosecutors say she wrongly took more than $30,000 in assistance.
According to court documents, 31-year-old Kristi James did not tell federal authorities that she was married or that her husband worked at a Lafayette manufacturer. In addition, he has a cocaine dealing conviction which would make him ineligible to get food stamp benefits.
Federal authorities say James defrauded the government out of more than $10,000 in food stamps or SNAP benefits and $23,000 in Medicaid benefits.
She faces two counts each of welfare fraud and theft.