RI Department Of Human Services Supervisor Accused Of SNAP Fraud

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) supervisor is facing federal charges after prosecutors said she and her daughter used her position to access people's SNAP benefits and use them for her own purchases.

Nadine Jean Baptiste, 57, of Warwick, was charged with aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, and conspiracy.

Prosecutors said Baptiste repeatedly conducted phone balance inquiries on EBT benefit cards, frequently changing the PINs associated with those cards. The benefit accounts Baptiste accessed often belonged to children, as well as homeless people and incarcerated individuals, prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, Baptiste improperly accessed $191,000 worth of SNAP EBT benefits.

The investigation into this matter was launched in September 2023, when the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit received complaints from SNAP recipients that they did not receive EBT benefit cards issued to them, which are commonly mailed to the address of the recipient or obtained in-person from a DHS office in the case of a homeless recipient.

Baptiste was arrested at work on Tuesday. An arrest warrant was also issued for Octavia Jean Baptiste, who faces the same charges, as her mother.

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