Memphis Man Sentenced for SNAP Fraud and Identity Theft

Memphis, TN - Willie Williams, Jr., also known as Willie Gary, 56, of Memphis, was sentenced to 104 months in federal prison in connection with a years-long scheme of filing false applications for SNAP benefits and then selling them to members of the community. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, from May 2020 through July 2023, Williams used the personally identifiable information of over 100 people to fraudulently obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low and middle income families buy food, thus reducing hunger. Williams previously entered a guilty plea to Aggravated Identity Theft and Food Stamp Fraud.

As a part of the sentence imposed, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman also ordered Williams to pay $626,906 in restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture - Food and Nutrition Services and serve a three-year term of supervision after release from custody.

This case was jointly investigated by the Special Investigations Unit of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

United States Attorney Ritz said: "This defendant used other people's identities to commit fraud on an important federal program. I deeply appreciate our federal and state partners for their work on this important prosecution. Our office will continue to use all the tools available to us to bring fraudsters to justice."

"We are grateful for the partnerships with USDA/OIG, U.S. Postal Inspectors, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their guidance and assistance in pursuing prosecution of this SNAP Fraud case. TDHS-OIG continues to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in our public assistance programs, so that eligible recipients are protected," said Richard Carr, Program Integrity Director for the TDHS's Office of Inspector General.

"The United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, actively investigates allegations of fraud in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). This investigation serves as a warning to all individuals that SNAP Fraud and Identity Theft will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by the USDA-OIG, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and all its federal, state, and local partners that have a stake in ensuring that fraud is eliminated from taxpayer-funded programs," said Miles Davis, Special Agent-in-Charge for USDA's Office of Inspector General.

"This defendant used the U.S. Mail to take advantage of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is a program developed to help families in need. This sentence will send a message that these crimes are serious and that our agency will continue to work to ensure these criminals are held accountable for their actions," said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge for the United States Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division.

United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III and former Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Lewis, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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