PROVIDENCE – A Burrillville woman pleaded no contest this week to fraudulently receiving more than $16,000 in benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program between 2016 and 2019.
Linda Arndt, 61, was ordered to repay the program in Providence County Superior Court, according to a news release from Attorney General Peter Neronha.
According to prosecutors in the case, Arndt did not report her husband’s income to the state, which would have made her ineligible for the SNAP program. She received the benefits fraudulently for a period of almost three years and pleaded to one count each of fraudulently obtaining public assistance over $500.
“When people collect benefits they aren’t entitled to, they reduce the amount of benefits that are available to those who are eligible and who really need them,” said Neronha. “That’s why this work is important, and that’s why we do it.”
Arndt has been ordered her to repay $16,402 to the state of Rhode Island and received a deferred five-year sentence from Superior Court Justice Luis Matos.
Det. Brendan Doyle of the Rhode Island State Police led the investigation into the case with the help of the Department of Administration. Special Assistant Attorney General Jessica Villella prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.
