INDIANAPOLIS - Three state employees who were supposed to help needy families get money and food are now charged with helping themselves to more than $191,000 of federal tax dollars.
Robert Edwards, Timberly Snyder and Adina Lopez were all indicted on theft charges. They're accused of creating 126 fraudulent EBT cards using the names of food stamp applicants who visited an office at 3524 North Meridian Street between December 2008 and April 2010.
EBT cards are like debit cards. They were reportedly used to buy groceries, withdraw money from ATM machines and sold for cash.
Investigators say Timberly Snyder, an administrator for the cards, helped funnel them through.
"Hardworking Hoosier taxpayers deserve nothing less than the vigorous prosecution of anyone who misuses the public trust and steals from the taxpayers," said U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett.
The theft happened under the nose of the Family and Social Services Administration while the agency faced public scrutiny over its botched benefits system. But FSSA's investigators don't believe the modernization played any part in the fraud because Marion County had not yet converted to the modernized plan.
"I don't think this is a problem with the system. I think this is evidence of how the system has worked. You cannot have a foolproof system. People will find ways to commit fraud," said Mike Carter, defending the security systems in place at the FSSA.
Robert Edwards and Timberly Snyder left the FSSA amid investigation last year. Lopez was still on the job until her arrest Tuesday.
FSSA says it has yet to notify individuals whose names and information were fraudulently used.
Hogsett says he will seek to get taxpayer's money back through forfeiture proceedings.
If convicted, the three former employees face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
