ATLANTA — Four people, including two state employees, are in custody, accused of stealing $1.7 million in EBT or electronic benefit transfer cards from the Georgia Department of Human Services. The cards are meant for people on public assistance and were created to reduce fraud, theft and abuse. The four suspects are accused of stealing the cards and cashing them in at taxpayer's expense.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Spokesman John Bankhead told Channel 2's Tom Jones the U.S Postal Service contacted GBI in March about stolen cards. Bankhead said the GBI then contacted the state DHS and learned the agency was already investigating the same case.
The four under arrest are Hosie Lee Baugh, 27; Gene Dennis Tell, 34; Kristy Nicole Williams, 27; and Tawanda Yvette Bowe, 39. Bankhead told Channel 2 Tell and Williams worked for DHS.
The GBI said the scheme began with Williams and Tell.
"They were kinda the key to this whole thing. Being on the inside they could manipulate the system to send these cards out," said Bankhead.
Bankhead said Tell and Williams filled out applications for the cards. Then they would send the cards to a fictitious address and to a Stone Mountain insurance company where Bowe worked.
"They were cashing in these cards like 50 to 75 percent of the value," said Bankhead.
Bankhead said postal inspectors and his agency discovered the scheme when Baugh tried to bribe a mail carrier to deliver the stolen cards to the fictitious address.
Agents executed search warrants at two residences on March 31 and April 2, as well as at one business on April 2.
"The theft of state funds is one of the top priorities for the GBI. We will continue to provide every available resource within our agency to identify all those involved," said GBI Director Vernon Keenan.
All four suspects are charged with conspiracy to defraud the state. Baugh also faces an additional charge of financial transaction card fraud.
"The illegal use of the U. S. mail will not be tolerated to further fraudulent schemes, " said Martin D. Phanco, postal inspector in charge of the Atlanta Division.
The GBI said it hopes to make more arrests in this case.
WSBTV
