WILMINGTON, N.C. — A Wayne County woman has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a scheme that stole more than $100,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II sentenced Shermeca McCrary to six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. McCrary was also ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $102,000.
According to federal officials, McCrary exploited her position as a case worker with the Johnston County Department of Social Services to unlawfully access SNAP accounts belonging to eligible recipients. She then diverted a total of $102,000 in government funds for her own personal use.
The SNAP program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture and managed at the state level by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services along with local social services offices, is designed to provide food assistance to low-income individuals and families.
The sentencing comes amid a broader federal push to crack down on fraud involving taxpayer-funded programs. On April 7, the United States Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, aimed at investigating and prosecuting financial crimes tied to federal benefits.
Officials say the effort aligns with a nationwide initiative led by Donald Trump and chaired by J.D. Vance, focused on eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse across government programs.
“We proudly join the President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in prosecuting this case,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This office will continue to hold accountable anyone who steals from our taxpayer-funded programs. This SNAP fraudster has learned the lesson – cheaters never win.”
The case was investigated by the USDA Office of Inspector General, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Johnston County Department of Social Services Program Integrity unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes prosecuted the case.
