A grand jury has indicted two women and four DeSoto County residents on charges of allegedly defrauding the State of Mississippi out of more than $96,993.40 in public assistance funds through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other welfare programs.
According to District Attorney Matthew Barton, Kayla Smith and Sharita Jones were apprehended today by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Division and DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office investigators during Operation Snap, Crackle, Pop’em.
Smith is charged with three counts of exploiting the state’s childcare payment program, totaling $37,852.78.
Jones, a former Mississippi Department of Human Services employee, is accused of scamming the SNAP program by misrepresenting her income.
Late on Wednesday, all four suspects were indicted. The D.A. stated that each acted independently and that investigators discovered no evidence that the deception was part of a larger, organized scheme.
The alleged offenses occurred between 2020 and 2025.
“Let me be very clear. If you steal from the taxpayers of Mississippi, my office is going to aggressively prosecute you,” said District Attorney Matthew Barton. “These funds are meant for people who truly need help, not for those who want to trick the system. Accountability is coming for anyone who thinks otherwise.”
According to Barton, the indictment contains simple claims, and the defendant is deemed innocent unless proven guilty.
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