A former Indiana welfare worker has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for creating bogus debit cards he and a co-worker used to steal $185,000 from needy residents' state benefit accounts.
Thirty-seven-year-old Robert Edwards of Indianapolis pleaded guilty Thursday to fraud in federal court. U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett said Edwards and another Family and Social Services Administration employee identified people with unused benefits in their food stamp or welfare accounts, then created fake cards to access those funds.
Prosecutors say legitimate recipients were unable to access their funds because of the scheme.
Edwards' alleged co-conspirator, Timberly Snyder, faces sentencing on June 25.
FSSA spokesman Neal Moore said the agency is "pleased that Robert Edwards is being held accountable for his illegal actions."
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