2 Beaufort Co. residents charged with food stamp fraud
BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) — A man and woman have been charged with fraudulently receiving over $20,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) revealed Monday that on March 31, Dennis Lee Phillips Jr., 42 and Jennifer Nichole Phillips, 44, were both arrested for receiving a total of $20,369 in SNAP benefits, according to court documents.
Each were charged with one count of fraudulent acquisition or use of food stamps, greater than $10,000.
Both were booked at the Beaufort County Detention Center.
The case will be prosecuted by the 14th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Group of Pittsburgh residents say their stolen SNAP benefits were used in Chicago
SNAP benefits drained! We're hearing from several women who say they're out hundreds of dollars. Tonight on 11 at 11, reporter Addison Albert reveals where that money ended up and the mystery surrounding how it got there. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Utah woman sentenced after pleading guilty to Medicaid fraud
SALT LAKE CITY () — A Utah woman has been sentenced to serve no more than 15 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to two fraud charges related to Medicaid. Deaun Larson Holdaway, 67, was sentenced in May, according to the Utah Attorney General's Office, for the charges of second-degree felony false claims for medical benefits and third-degree felony public assistance fraud. Here's why a Pleasant Grove splash pad closed shortly after opening Holdaway, along with two other suspects, was reportedly responsible for submitting over 7,700 Medicaid claims between March 2019 and June 2022, through a Medicaid provider identified as a behavioral health company based in Mt. Pleasant, offering substance use disorder treatment. The Utah Attorney General's Office said the claims were for services that were not provided by professionals and were documented fraudulently. The false claims reportedly resulted in over $12.9 million being paid to the Medicaid provider. In a statement, the Utah Attorney General's Office said none of the services would have been paid if the state's Medicaid program had known that the services were provided by unqualified individuals using false records provided by Holdaway and the two other suspects. Julia Reagan shrine pops up at a Salt Lake City pride party 'Protecting the Medicaid program against fraud is critical given the limited resources available to provide care for this needy population,' said Kaye Lynn Wootton, the director of the Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Division. 'When fraudsters cause false claims to be paid by Medicaid, that reduces resources available to provide care to those who desperately need services.' Through their investigation, the Medicaid Fraud Division also found evidence that Holdaway received public assistance benefits, such as SNAP, special payments, financial assistance and medical assistance, by underreporting her employment and income. 'In reality, Holdaway was the third highest paid worker at [the Medicaid provider], receiving compensation of over $1.36 million from January 2019 through August 2022,' the Utah Attorney General's Office said in a press release. Holdaway was originally charged with three counts of second-degree felony false claims for medical benefits and one count of second-degree felony public assistance fraud. Through a plea deal, the court agreed to drop two false claims counts and amend the public assistance fraud charge to a third-degree felony. A restitution hearing for Holdaway has been scheduled for July 21. Pink water at Bear Lake? Here's how this study aims to curb invasive plant species The other suspects identified in the case, Lillian Kaye Simiskey, 41, and Margaret Krisandra Christie, 42, are still awaiting trial. Court records show Simiskey has been charged with second-degree felony pattern of unlawful activity, three counts of second-degree felony false claims for medical benefits, three counts of second-degree felony tax evasion and two counts of third-degree felony failure to render a proper tax return. She is scheduled for a court hearing on Tuesday, June 17. Christie, meanwhile, has been charged with second-degree felony unlawful activity, two counts of second-degree felony false claims for medical benefits and one count of second-degree felony public assistance fraud. A jury trial for Christie is scheduled to begin on Dec. 16, 2025. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. ChatGPT is 'experiencing issues,' OpenAI says: What we know so far Bannon calls for special counsel probe of Musk Utah woman sentenced after pleading guilty to Medicaid fraud Heat persists throughout Utah with above-average highs Proud Boys lawsuit over Jan. 6 faces steep legal odds, high political cost Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Changes proposed to Pennsylvania EBT cards
(WHTM) – Changes could be coming for Pennsylvania's SNAP recipients. On Monday, the Pennsylvania State House passed a bipartisan bill that would require a report on transitioning to chip-enabled Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Proposed by State Reps. Dan Williams (D-Chester) and Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon), the transition to chip-enabled cards would increase security for card users amid EBT card-skimming incidents. 'I've had a growing number of constituents share their stories about theft of their SNAP benefits through skimming schemes,' said Williams. 'Unlike debit and credit cards, EBT cards lack security chips, making them highly vulnerable to fraud. Since October 2022, Pennsylvania has recorded more than 23,000 cases of EBT theft.' Pennsylvanians on SNAP urged to change EBT card information; Here's why If passed by the State Senate and signed into law by the governor, the bill would require the Department of Human Services to deliver a report to lawmakers highlighting costs, fraud prevention efforts and relevant statistics to enhance the security of SNAP benefits. Williams says Pennsylvania is one of the few states in the country that hasn't transitioned to chip-enabled EBT cards. Pennsylvania recently rolled out a new security feature for EBT cards where users can lock the card to prevent benefit theft. Users can also change their PIN and are encouraged to consider a change when benefits roll out each month. 'We are constantly working to ensure that the benefits DHS administers stay with the Pennsylvanians who need them. The Department of Human Services is aware of skimming incidents that have been targeting SNAP recipients – card skimming and SNAP theft have been issues nationwide,' said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. 'Do not become a victim of this crime. Make sure you change your PIN every month, and when you swipe your EBT card at a card reader, please make sure a skimming device is not attached.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now If SNAP benefits are stolen from an EBT card, users should immediately report the theft to local law enforcement and to the OSIG by calling 1-800-932-0582. If an individual's benefits are stolen, they should request a replacement EBT card as soon as possible from DHS' EBT contractor, Conduent, at 888-328-7366, or by contacting their local County Assistance Office. Card benefits stolen after December 20, 2024, can not be replaced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.