A 36-year-old South Florida woman, Jamye Sharne Barnes, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing government money, a crime that has plagued the community for years. Barnes was found guilty of two counts of theft of government money and one count of aggravated identity theft, charges that carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Barnes, who worked at a tax preparation business in the Southern District of Florida, used her position to embezzle funds from her employer and use them to pay for her own benefits. She also used her employer’s bank accounts to deposit over 30 fraudulently obtained United States Treasury income tax refund checks, totaling $188,746.70.
Of the total amount, Barnes personally withdrew at least $127,327. This case highlights the importance of monitoring government programs and preventing fraud. The investigation and prosecution of this case were made possible by the efforts of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Broward County Housing Authority (BCHA).
Barnes was ordered to pay $187,997 in restitution to the government. She will also serve two years of supervised release after her prison sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cary O. Aronovitz.
According to court documents, Barnes applied to receive Section 8 housing benefits in Broward County, Florida, through the Broward County Housing Authority in May 2011. She was approved to live at a house in Miramar, Florida, and HUD paid $1,154 in rent per month from July 26, 2011, to November 8, 2012. From May 2012 to 2016, Barnes received a total of $38,000 in benefits, despite failing to disclose income that would have disqualified her from receiving HUD Section 8 benefits.
On December 16, 2008, Barnes applied to receive USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps. She was approved and received benefits ranging from $313 to $526 per month from May 2012 to 2016, based on the information she provided to the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Mr. Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, commended the investigative efforts of HUD-OIG, USDA-OIG, IRS-CI, and the BCHA. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of preventing and prosecuting government benefit fraud.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Related Federal Cases
- Kenitra Michelle Gilmer, Theft of Government Property, Florida 2012 · Florida
- Kency Aime, Access Device Fraud and Identity Theft, Florida 2023 · Idaho
- Jermaine Winters, Tax Refund Fraud and Identity Theft, Florida 2012 · Florida
- Cherica Daniels, Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Aggravated Identity Theft, Florida 2014 · Idaho
- John Francis Songer, Theft of Union Fund, Florida 2023 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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