Florida Woman Accused of Stealing $120K in SNAP Benefits from More Than 200 Victims

A Florida woman is facing serious charges after prosecutors say she stole more than $120,000 in SNAP benefits from over 200 victims, many of whom only discovered the theft when they were unable to pay for groceries.

Authorities say 43-year-old Tamica Brown carried out the scheme over an eight-month period in Broward County, using stolen EBT card numbers to access food assistance funds. Investigators allege she worked with at least two other individuals, who remain at large, to obtain hundreds of SNAP account numbers.

Prosecutors say the victims were among the most vulnerable residents in South Florida, including elderly individuals. One victim, 95-year-old Angela Liriano, said she was left without food money after her benefits were drained.

“I was really in need,” Liriano said. “They really hurt me.”

She said she discovered the theft when her EBT card was declined at a grocery store. It took about a month of paperwork and phone calls before her benefits were restored, leaving her without access to food assistance during that time.

Investigators say Brown used the stolen benefits to purchase large quantities of items like sports drinks and energy drinks, which were then resold to local stores for cash.

Brown appeared in court facing charges including criminal use of personal identification information and trafficking counterfeit credit cards. Prosecutors described the case as a high-level fraud targeting vulnerable populations.

Her bond has been set at $300,000 as the investigation continues.

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