Three Women Stole From Food Stamps Program: State

Three Connecticut women were recently arrested and charged in unrelated incidents with stealing a combined $35,126.76 from programs financed by the state Department of Social Services.

Cassandra George, 34, of West Hartford, Raeann Gilbert, 35, of Bloomfield and LaCoya Taylor, 34, of East Hartford, were arrested by inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney on separate warrants.

All three women were charged with first-degree larceny and second-degree making a false statement, state officials said Wednesday afternoon.

• According to the arrest warrant affidavit for Cassandra George of West Hartford, George received a total of $15,528.76 in benefits she was not entitled to receive from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which used to be known as food stamps, and Care4Kids, which is a DSS childcare program.

With respect to SNAP benefits, George received $11,528 she was not entitled to receive from January 2020 to November 2022.

George is alleged to have failed to report a legally liable relative she was residing with, along with the legally liable relative’s income, in order to receive SNAP benefits.

Additionally, George submitted a Care4Kids application where she is alleged to have also failed to report the legally liable relative’s income and was granted Care4Kids benefits she was not eligible to receive in the amount of $4,000.76.

George was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court Feb. 2.

• According to the arrest warrant affidavit for Bloomfield resident Raeann Gilbert, Gilbert received $17,243 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to receive from January 2020 to December 2022.

Gilbert is alleged to have failed to report a legally liable relative she was residing with, along with the legally liable relative’s income, in order to receive SNAP benefits.

Gilbert was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court Feb. 2.

• According to the arrest warrant affidavit for LaCoya Taylor of East Hartford, Taylor received $2,355 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to receive from June 2022 to October 2022.

Taylor is alleged to have failed to report income from her employment in order to receive SNAP benefits.

Taylor was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court Thursday, Jan. 26.

The charges in both matters are merely accusations and George, Gilbert and Taylor are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, state officials said.

The DSS investigative division submitted the arrest warrant applications for George, Gilbert and Taylor’s arrest. T

The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Susan Hatfield of the Statewide Prosecution Bureau.