Two Hartford-Area Women Charged With Stealing Food Stamps: State

CT Department of Criminal Justice

GREATER HARTFORD, CT — Four Connecticut residents — including one from Hartford and one from East Hartford were recently charged, in unrelated incidents, with stealing food stamp benefits from the state.

According to the Connecticut Department of Criminal Justice on Wednesday, a combined $19,111 was stolen from programs financed by the state Department of Social Services.

Among the quartet were Livia Brown, 35, of East Hartford, and Lexxiani Lopez, 23, of Hartford, according to state authorities.

Also charged were a 41-year-old Bridgeport woman and a 34-year-old New Haven woman.

All were charged by inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney on separate warrants, authorities said.

All four defendants were charged with first-degree larceny, according to law enforcement officials.

Lopez and the other two were also charged with one count of second-degree making a false statement, officials said

According to the arrest warrant affidavit for Brown, she is accused of fraudulently obtaining $7,434 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits— often referred to as "food stamps" — she was not entitled to receive.

Brown was released on a promise to appear and was scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court Thursday, Nov. 9.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit for Lopez, she received $2,680 in benefits from SNAP that she was not entitled to receive.

Lopez was released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and was scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Thursday, Nov. 9.

For the full Connecticut Department of Criminal Justice announcement, click on this link.