Joshua Moya, SNAP Benefits Fraud, New Mexico 2015

ALBUQUERQUE – Joshua Moya, 33, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced to six months in prison, or time served, followed by three years of supervised release for defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, more commonly known as the 'Food Stamp' Program.

Moya, who was sentenced on [date], was also ordered to pay $2,444.00 in restitution for his role in a scheme that defrauded the program of thousands of dollars in benefits.

The indictment, which was filed in August 2014, alleged that Moya, along with five other Albuquerque residents, conspired to defraud the Food Stamp Program between September 2009 and May 2010.

According to the indictment, the group, which included Joseph Martin Padilla, Sergio Escobedo, Veronica Hernandez, Justin Quintana, and Wilfredo Lopez, used names and personal identifiers to establish fraudulent SNAP accounts, sometimes in exchange for cash or other things of value.

The indictment alleged that Padilla, who worked as a Family Assistance Analyst for the Income Support Division of the New Mexico Human Services Department, used his position to establish the fraudulent accounts and obtain benefits for himself and his co-defendants.

On March 9, 2015, Moya entered a guilty plea to Count 31 of the indictment, admitting that he fraudulently obtained SNAP benefits to which he was not entitled.

Moya admitted that he completed an application for SNAP benefits in December 2009, even though he knew he was not entitled to the benefits, and unlawfully received $866.00 in SNAP benefits.

He also admitted that he provided another application for SNAP benefits to a family member, who unlawfully received $1,578.00 in SNAP benefits.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/albuquerque-barber-sentenced-defrauding-federal-food-stamp-program