SNAP Fraud Helper

⏱ 2 min read

Dominique Collins, 38, of Stafford, Virginia, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence in a federal court in Maryland. The charges stem from her attempt to help her boyfriend, Brendyn Andrew, 34, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, alter an email account associated with a SNAP benefits fraud scheme. The scheme led to Andrew’s arrest in March 2025, while he was detained at the Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore, Maryland. Collins tried to delete the email account to make it unavailable for use in the official proceeding. The incident occurred when Andrew asked Collins to delete the Google email account during a phone conversation.

Collins faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Her sentencing is set for July 2, 2026. Andrew pleaded guilty to a federal 10-count superseding indictment in January 2026, including SNAP benefits fraud, possessing unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and witness tampering. His sentencing is slated for May 22, 2026.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland commended the USDA-OIG and DSS for their work in the investigation, and the Montgomery County Police Department for its investigative assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy.

The guilty plea is a result of the collaborative efforts of the USDA-OIG, DSS, and the Montgomery County Police Department. The investigation and prosecution of the case demonstrate the commitment to combating fraud and protecting the integrity of federal programs.