PEMBROKE PINES, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A Broward Sheriff’s Office investigation into stolen SNAP benefits that started with a report at a Cooper City Walmart has led to an arrest, with investigators saying the fraud affected hundreds of recipients and caused more than $120,000 in losses.
BSO said the case centers on unauthorized use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits accessed through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. SNAP is a federally funded program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture through its Food and Nutrition Service. Recipients use EBT cards and a personal identification number to access benefits.
The investigation began July 20, 2025, when BSO Cooper City deputies responded to the Walmart at 4700 S. Flamingo Road after a victim reported fraudulent use of their EBT card. From there, BSO investigators said they identified approximately 200 victims and a combined loss of more than $120,000. Investigators have tracked down and interviewed more than 30 victims so far.
BSO said the eight-month investigation found the suspect operated an organized fraud scheme that relied on unlawfully obtained EBT card numbers, associated PINs, and account balances belonging to SNAP recipients. Investigators said evidence indicated the card numbers were stolen by unknown means and transmitted electronically to the suspect through phones.
After receiving the stolen EBT information, investigators said the suspect used the card numbers and PINs to conduct unauthorized transactions. BSO said the purchases involved high-demand items including energy drinks such as Red Bull, Celsius and Monster, along with sports drinks such as Gatorade and soda.
BSO investigators said the merchandise was then resold to corner stores and convenience stores, converting stolen government benefits into cash.
Investigators said victims often learned their benefits were gone at the checkout line. They would attempt to use their EBT card to buy food for themselves or their families, only to find the benefits had already been depleted, forcing them to leave the store without the items they needed.
BSO said it developed probable cause for an arrest. Pembroke Pines police officers arrested the suspect on BSO’s warrant on Tuesday, April 7. She is being held in the Broward County Main Jail.
BSO said the suspect faces charges of trafficking in counterfeit credit cards (50 or more cards) and criminal use of personal identification information (over 30 victims).
Authority for the investigation sits with BSO’s Cooper City District investigators, who worked the case with the State Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Division, the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and Walmart.
What happens next is in the court process, with the suspect held at the Broward County Main Jail and the case moving forward through prosecutors. BSO has said it has identified about 200 victims but has interviewed more than 30 so far, indicating the investigation’s victim follow-up work is ongoing.
For residents in Boca Raton and across Palm Beach County who use SNAP benefits, the case is a reminder to watch for signs of unauthorized EBT activity. BSO’s report describes victims discovering missing benefits when they tried to buy groceries, so recipients should pay attention to whether their balances match expected amounts before shopping and act quickly if they believe their benefits have been used without permission.
The case began with a report at a Walmart in Cooper City, and BSO’s account describes a scheme involving electronic transmission of stolen EBT information and resale of purchased goods to small retailers. BSO has not said how the EBT information was originally stolen.
