SNAP Fraud Investigation Leads to Plea Agreement in Benton County

A Benton County, MS, resident who was charged with welfare fraud has entered into a plea agreement following an investigation by the Mississippi Department of Human Services Investigation Division.

MDHS announced that Amanda Feathers, 38, of Benton County, entered into a plea agreement with the District Attorney concerning welfare fraud in the Benton County Circuit Court on August 4, 2025.

Feathers received an over issuance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ​benefits in the amount of $18,764.00 by not accurately reporting her household composition and income to the MDHS. She was ordered to participate in the Pretrial Intervention Program for three years and pay fines, fees, and restitution in the amount of $19,907.50.

“This is a great example of collaboration between our investigations team, MDHS County offices, District Attorneys, and local law enforcement,” stated MDHS Inspector General Sandra Griffith. 

This investigation was conducted by Agent Hunter Walton of the Investigations Division of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS). The Investigations Division is a part of the MDHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), which was created in August 2018 and is charged with detecting, preventing, and deterring fraud, waste, and abuse. OIG has been responsible for recovering millions of dollars from SNAP overpayments.

“This investigation and plea agreement demonstrate the controls we have in place to identify, investigate, and eliminate fraud in our programs; plainly, those controls are working,” MDHS Executive Director Robert G. “Bob” Anderson said. Suspected fraud can be reported to MDHS online any time by submitting the MDHS Fraud Tip Form at http://www.mdhs.ms.gov/report-fraud/, calling the Fraud Tip Line at 1-(800)-299-6905, or email at fraud@mdhs.ms.gov.