Memphis, TN – Willie Williams, Jr., also known as Willie Gary, 56, of Memphis, has been sentenced to 104 months in federal prison for his involvement in a scheme to file false applications for SNAP benefits and sell them to community members. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence.
Court documents revealed that from May 2020 through July 2023, Williams used the personally identifiable information of over 100 individuals to fraudulently obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP, previously known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded initiative designed to help low and middle-income families purchase food and reduce hunger. Williams pled guilty to charges of Aggravated Identity Theft and Food Stamp Fraud.
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Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman also ordered Williams to pay $626,906 in restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition Services and to serve a three-year term of supervision following his release from custody.
The case was investigated by the Special Investigations Unit of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
United States Attorney Ritz expressed gratitude for the collaboration between federal and state partners, stating, “This defendant used other people’s identities to commit fraud on an important federal program. I deeply appreciate our federal and state partners for their work on this important prosecution. Our office will continue to use all the tools available to us to bring fraudsters to justice.”
Richard Carr, Program Integrity Director for the TDHS’s Office of Inspector General, commended the partnerships with USDA/OIG, U.S. Postal Inspectors, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the case, emphasizing TDHS-OIG’s commitment to combating fraud, waste, and abuse in public assistance programs.
Miles Davis, Special Agent-in-Charge for USDA’s Office of Inspector General, highlighted the importance of investigating SNAP fraud and identity theft, stating, “This investigation serves as a warning to all individuals that SNAP Fraud and Identity Theft will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by the USDA-OIG, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and all its federal, state, and local partners that have a stake in ensuring that fraud is eliminated from taxpayer-funded programs.”
Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge for the United States Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division, added, “This defendant used the U.S. Mail to take advantage of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is a program developed to help families in need. This sentence will send a message that these crimes are serious and that our agency will continue to work to ensure these criminals are held accountable for their actions.”
United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz also thanked Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III and former Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Lewis, who prosecuted the case, along with the law enforcement partners who conducted the investigation.
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Source: Read Original Release
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