A former employee of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has been accused of stealing SNAP and TANF benefits and giving them to unauthorized people for profit.
Prosecutors claim Eboni Navae Royster was employed at the Lancaster County Assistance Office when she utilized her access to steal customers’ confidential information and then called the PA DHS electronic benefits hotline to change the PIN numbers on EBT cards.
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Following this, six victims’ EBT cards were used to execute transactions totaling $6,570.25 at retail food establishments throughout Lancaster and York Counties by individuals with no authorization to do so.
PA DHS addressed this incident with the State Inspector General after the Lancaster County Assistance Office discovered that EBT cards given to PA DHS clients were activated and utilized before they could be distributed to their intended receivers via normal mail. The cards had been approved for sending to SNAP and TANF recipients, including those with minor children in their household.
Justin Lamar Brown, a co-conspirator, is also facing charges in the case.
Royster has been charged with several felonies, including theft by unlawful taking, criminal conspiracy to commit access device fraud, and criminal use of a communication service. Brown is also facing felony charges, including criminal conspiracy to commit access device fraud and illegal use of a communication facility.
Anonymously report suspected assistance fraud on the OSIG website or call the Tipline at 1-800-932-0582.
