A Pennsylvania welfare supervisor is accused of stealing more than $20,000 in food stamp benefits and trading some of the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards for crack cocaine, prosecutors announced Monday.
Sheila McDonald, 46, of Pittsburgh, allegedly stole $20,558.61 in benefits by conducting over 270 unauthorized transactions using 48 EBT cards while working at the Lehigh County Assistance Office in Allentown. McDonald, who served as a clerical supervisor and EBT coordinator, had access to the cards and recipients' personal information, including birth dates and Social Security numbers.
An investigation was launched in November after four unauthorized transactions on an EBT card that had not reached its intended recipient were detected. Prosecutors said a phone number associated with McDonald was linked to the activation of this card and similar activities involving other EBT accounts. Security footage from November 19 reportedly showed McDonald using an EBT card to withdraw cash and make purchases at a grocery store and a convenience store.
Authorities allege that an unidentified man informed investigators that McDonald provided him with EBT cards and PINs as payment for crack cocaine, and that he believed she obtained the cards through her position at the welfare office. McDonald had been employed at the office since January of the current year.
To prevent further losses, state officials have replaced the EBT cards of affected households. McDonald has been suspended and barred from accessing Department of Human Services systems. She faces six felony charges, including access device fraud, receiving stolen property, theft, and conspiracy counts. A criminal complaint was filed against McDonald on October 2, and she was taken into custody and awaiting arraignment. Her preliminary hearing date had not yet been scheduled.