Police charge 20 suspects with fraudulently obtaining food stamps and public assistance

Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, announces the arrests of 20 individuals charged with fraudulently obtaining approximately $14,000 in food stamps and other public assistance benefits.

Members of the State Police Detective Bureau, in conjunction with investigators from the Rhode Island Department of Administration’s Office of Internal Audit – Fraud Detection and Prevention Unit, conducted investigations into the unauthorized spending of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) funds. The investigations stemmed from an analysis of data from the state Department of Administration, which identified the alleged theft of state assistance benefits totaling $14,000, in violation of the Rhode Island Public Assistance Act.

These investigations resulted in members of the State Police Financial Crimes Unit arresting 20 individuals over the past week on the following charges:

• Samantha M. Davenport, age 31, of 855 Providence St., West Warwick
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500

• Andrea M. Correia, age 35, of 40 Hebert St., Coventry
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500

• Sherri L. Cameron, age 44, of 815 Sandy Lane, Warwick
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500

• Jennifer L. Hopkins, age 29, of 50 Murray St., Warwick
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Under $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Under $500

• Brian W. O’Donnell, age 54, of 225 Morse Ave., Warwick
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500

• Stephanie D. Morse, age 42, of 187 Rankin Ave., Providence
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500
Conspiracy

• Jeffrey L. Douglas, age 48, of 187 Rankin Ave., Providence
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500
Conspiracy

• Hillary J. McKechnie, age 33, of 17 Cross St., Central Falls
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500

• Robin E. Eckstein, age 55, of 113 Cleveland St., West Warwick
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500
Soliciting Another to Commit a Crime (Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance)
Conspiracy

• Kerri A. Morris, age 49, of 20 Grover St., Providence
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500

• Ambar Sanchez, age 32, of 25 Salmon St., Providence
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Under $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Under $500

• Albert H. Jacques, age 60, of 50 Murray St., Coventry
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Under $500
Conspiracy

• Mirna N. Ferla, age 51, of 182 Pocahontas Dr., Warwick
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500

• James C. Douglas, age 49, of 80 Summit St., Pawtucket
Soliciting Another to Commit a Crime (Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance)
Parole Board Warrant – Violation of Parole

• Tammi Lynn Gundy, age 49, of 10 Monticello St., Providence
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500

• Maribel Santiago, age 59, of 14 Pelham St., Providence
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500

• Hector Santiago, age 59, of 14 Pelham St., Providence
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Over $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Over $500
Conspiracy

• Eric A. Delrosario, age 32, of 182 Sumter St., Providence
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Under $500
Conspiracy

• Dorothy T. Pona, age 34, of 581 Laurel Hill Ave., Cranston
Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps – Under $500
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Under $500

• Robert A. Ciaramello, age 48, of 20 Grover St., Providence
Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance – Under $500
Conspiracy

All the suspects were processed, arraigned and released on personal recognizance, pending further court action.

Any person convicted of Fraudulently Obtaining Public Assistance may be sentenced to up to five (5) years of imprisonment and/or fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) if the value of the public assistance exceeded five hundred dollars ($500). Any person convicted of Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps, whether a felony or misdemeanor, shall be ineligible to participate in the food stamp program for no less than six (6) months and no more than twenty-four (24) months.