Eight Arrested In Louisiana For Defrauding Nutrition Program

Eight Livingston Parish residents have been arrested on charges of felony theft connected to the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Department of Children and Family Services says the suspects stole nearly $56,000 by failing to report spouses and other household members and by providing falsified verification in order to obtain benefits they were not eligible to receive.

Arrested this week were: 30-year-old Holly Solieau, of Walker; 39-year-old Shanea Jones-Norris, and her husband, Bradley Norris, both of Denham Springs; 30-year-old Crystal Reeves, of Springfield; 33-year-old Rebecca Coats and her mother, Melissa Calloway, both of Denham Springs; and 39-year-old Kellie Germany and her husband, Joseph Germany, both of Walker;

Secretary Ruth Johnson says the department recovered more than $2.8 million from people who committed fraud and abuse in federal assistance programs.