A federal court sentenced Deshaune White to prison and ordered repayment after he used his access as a county caseworker to misappropriate more than $100,000 in SNAP benefits meant for needy families, a case tied to broader federal efforts to crack down on fraud in taxpayer-funded programs.
A judge handed Deshaune White six years in federal prison, followed by six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release for his role in stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds. He was also hit with a forfeiture money judgment totaling $102,733.80. The sentence reflects criminal liability for converting government benefits intended for low-income residents into personal gain.
White worked as a social services caseworker who was supposed to help North Carolinians access federal nutrition aid, but investigators say he misused his position to siphon funds instead. The SNAP program involved is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and managed at the state level by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and county Divisions of Social Services. Officials say insiders who betray that trust cause real harm to families who rely on these benefits.
Prosecutors say White unlawfully accessed SNAP accounts of qualified recipients and diverted $102,733.80 in government benefits for his personal use. The USDA Office of Inspector General and the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to charges and eventual conviction. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the case after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II imposed the sentence.
“We are proud to prosecute this case as a part of the President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. This office will continue to hold accountable anyone who defrauds any of our taxpayer-funded programs. This SNAP benefits fraudster is now a felon and will have to pay back his ill-gotten gains. Hopefully, he has learned the lesson – Cheaters. Never. Win.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division to sharpen federal focus on schemes that steal or misuse taxpayer dollars. That effort aligns with President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance, which aims to root out waste and abuse across benefit programs. The new Fraud Division is meant to bring more resources and coordination to cases like this one.
“It is an unconscionable betrayal of the public trust for a county employee responsible for administering federal food assistance to needy North Carolinian families to exploit his privileged access to recipient information to steal from those in need for his personal gain. USDA OIG is committed to working with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud under VP Vance’s leadership to hold everyone who defrauds American taxpayers and exploits the vulnerable to account. OIG will relentlessly pursue insider threats who try to abuse their position for profit.” – Inspector General John Walk.
https://x.com/USAO_EDNC/status/2070139708441584053
The USDA reports that its enforcement efforts have helped lead to nearly 1,000 arrests in cases involving SNAP theft and misuse. SNAP remains a vital program, serving roughly 41 million people nationwide, but those numbers also make it a target for fraud when internal safeguards are bypassed. Law enforcement officials say stopping insiders who exploit access is as important as policing external scams.
White’s conviction and the ordered restitution demonstrate how federal prosecutors are using new tools and task force momentum to pursue benefit fraud. Beyond prison time and forfeiture, his conviction results in a felony record that carries long-term consequences for employment and civil rights. Prosecutors emphasize that accountability for public servants who steal from vulnerable people must be visible and meaningful.
For federal and state agencies, the case is a reminder that personnel controls, auditing, and swift investigative partnerships are essential to deter abuse. Republican leaders who back the administration’s anti-fraud initiatives argue this kind of coordinated enforcement restores taxpayer confidence and protects program integrity. The message from prosecutors in this case was clear: abusing a trusted government role to steal benefits invites serious criminal consequences.
