Tolland, Willimantic Residents Facing Charges For SNAP Benefit Fraud

CONNECTICUT — Two Connecticut women were arrested Wednesday, and are accused of, in unrelated incidents, stealing a combined $11,284 from the Connecticut Department of Social Services food assistance program.

Carmen Rentas, 33, of Willimantic, and Cardie Dorvil, 29, of Tolland, were taken into custody by inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney on separate warrants.

Both women have been charged with first-degree larceny and two counts of providing a false statement in the second degree, according to the state Department of Justice.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Rentas received $5,364 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that she was not entitled to from Aug. 25, 2022 through July 31, 2023.

Rentas is accused of underreporting her income and failing to report a "legally liable" relative along with the legally liable relative's income, to receive SNAP benefits, according to a warrant. Rentas signed and submitted SNAP documents, which included information that she "knew was not true and intentionally misled Connecticut Department of Social Services employees," according to the state Department of Justice.

Rentas was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in Danielson Superior Court on April 17, according to the state Department of Justice.

According to a warrant, Dorvil received $5,920 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to from April 1, 2023 through Nov. 30, 2023.

Dorvil is accused of failing to report income to receive SNAP benefits and signing documents with false information, according too a warrant.

Dorvil was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court, on April 9, according to the state Department of Justice.

The Connecticut Department of Social Services investigative division submitted the arrest warrant applications for the arrests of Rentas and Dorvil. The cases are being prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau.