Desha Morris, a 39-year-old resident of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to ten counts of mail fraud and two counts of benefits fraud. She was also ordered to pay $335,589.08 in restitution.
Court documents show that between April 2020 and July 2022, Morris ran a scheme to illegally obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by submitting fraudulent applications with fake identities and altered documents. SNAP is a federal program designed to provide food assistance to low-income individuals and families in the United States. In Indiana, eligibility for SNAP is determined by income, assets, and household size through the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), which then issues Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards used like debit cards for food purchases.
Morris used falsified driver’s licenses, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and rented multiple residences as mailing addresses for EBT cards. She also forged letters from supposed family or friends to prove residency and lack of income, impersonated applicants during FSSA phone interviews, and kept detailed records of her activities.
After receiving the EBT cards under false pretenses, Morris either sold the SNAP benefits for cash or used them herself. The total amount obtained through this scheme was $335,589.08.
Morris has prior convictions dating back to 2006 involving forgery, theft, identity fraud—including using stolen identities for credit-based vehicle rentals—and possession of counterfeit checks and fraudulent identification documents.
Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana said: “Desha Morris’s actions not only defrauded the taxpayers who fund the SNAP program but also harmed the most vulnerable members of our community by undermining the integrity of critical safety net services. Her scheme jeopardized access to food assistance for those in genuine need and exposed innocent individuals to potential long-term damage to their credit and financial security. We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who abuse public programs for personal gain.”
Felicia George, Acting Inspector in Charge at the United States Postal Inspection Service added: “Postal inspectors are committed to protecting the integrity of the mail system and holding those who abuse it accountable. I commend the dedication and collaboration of the investigators who uncovered this sophisticated scheme, and the prosecutors who helped bring this offender to justice.”
The investigation involved several agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; United States Postal Inspection Service; Social Security Administration; and Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt imposed the sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Wood and Carolyn Haney prosecuted this case.
