Four indicted in $97K DeSoto County welfare fraud case

HERNANDO, Miss. – Four DeSoto County residents have been indicted for allegedly defrauding the State of Mississippi of nearly $97,000 in public assistance funds, District Attorney Matthew Barton announced Thursday.

The indictments follow an investigation into the misuse of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other state welfare initiatives. According to the District Attorney’s Office, the alleged fraud occurred between 2020 and 2025 and resulted in a total loss of $96,993.40 to taxpayers.

Two of the suspects, Kayla Smith and Sharita Jones, were arrested Thursday by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Division in conjunction with the District Attorney’s investigators.

Smith is facing three counts related to abusing the state’s childcare payment program, with alleged fraudulent activity totaling $37,852.78. Jones, a former employee of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS), faces one count of defrauding the SNAP program. She is accused of misrepresenting her income to illegally obtain $20,028.00 in benefits.

Investigators emphasized that the four suspects acted independently, stating there is no evidence suggesting the crimes were part of a larger organized ring.

“Let me be very clear. If you steal from the taxpayers of Mississippi, my office is going to aggressively prosecute you,” District Attorney Barton said in a statement. “These funds are meant for people who truly need help, not for those who want to trick the system. Accountability is coming for anyone who thinks otherwise.”

The indictments were handed down by a Grand Jury late Wednesday. All charges are currently allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.