Couple Charged with $20,000 Food Stamp Fraud in Beaufort County

News Summary

Dennis Lee Phillips and Jennifer Nichole Phillips have been charged with food stamp fraud exceeding $20,000 over four years. The couple allegedly falsified income information to obtain fraudulent benefits from SNAP. They face serious penalties, including potential imprisonment and fines. Following their arrest, they were released on a personal recognizance bond. The 14th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office will prosecute the case, while the South Carolina Department of Social Services urges reporting of such fraud.

Beaufort County – A local couple, Dennis Lee Phillips and Jennifer Nichole Phillips, has been charged with committing food stamp fraud exceeding $20,000 over a four-year period.

According to officials, the Phillips couple allegedly obtained $20,369 in fraudulent benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), specifically between May 2018 and September 2022.

Key details include:

  • Charges were filed on March 31, where both individuals were charged with one felony count of fraudulent acquisition or use of food stamps.
  • The charges carry a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $5,000.
  • Dennis Phillips reportedly failed to include his wife’s income and her presence when completing SNAP household composition forms in 2018 and 2019.
  • During this time, Jennifer Phillips was employed by three health care and assisted living facilities in the Bluffton area.
  • She is alleged to have assisted in the inaccuracies on the reports submitted.

Following their arrest, both individuals were released from Beaufort County jail on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. This type of bond allows them to remain free without paying unless they violate court conditions.

Their case will be prosecuted by the 14th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) encourages anyone with information regarding fraud to report it through their Office of Inspector General at dss.sc.gov or by calling 1-800-694-8518.

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