A Rhode Island Department of Human Services supervisor admitted in federal court to misusing her position to access and exploit SNAP EBT card information, touching off a multiagency probe into missing cards, altered PINs, and improper benefit spending affecting vulnerable recipients.

A supervisor at the Rhode Island Department of Human Services pleaded guilty on August 4, 2026, after federal prosecutors said she used her role to reach into the benefit system. Nadine Jean Baptiste, 59, of Warwick, admitted to repeatedly accessing Electronic Benefit Transfer account details while on the job. The admission came after investigators traced a pattern of unauthorized activity tied to her DHS access.

Federal filings state Baptiste conducted telephonic balance checks and changed personal identification numbers without authorization, actions that let someone divert funds or make purchases. Many of the people whose cards were accessed were juveniles, homeless, or incarcerated, leaving them especially vulnerable to exploitation. Prosecutors say the misconduct was not a one-off but a repeated misuse of official access privileges.

Officials allege EBT cards holding more than $300,000 in SNAP benefits were improperly accessed, and that some of those benefits were used for personal purchases by Baptiste and her daughter. The complaint paints a picture of internal access being converted into financial gain for people connected to the supervisor.

The investigation began in September 2023 after a surge of complaints came through the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit Fraud Hotline from recipients who said they never received cards mailed to them. Those initial tip-offs prompted a records review and cross-checks that revealed irregular account activity tied to staff access. Once patterns emerged, federal and state investigators opened a coordinated inquiry.

SNAP is a federal program administered at the state level that issues benefit cards to low-income households and eligible individuals. The cards can be used at approved retailers that accept SNAP, providing critical food assistance to millions. Because the benefit is tied to a card and PIN, control over those credentials is central to whether funds reach the intended recipient.

https://x.com/USAO_RI/status/2085021760852726254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The program serves roughly 40 million people nationwide but faces persistent fraud risks from multiple directions, including bad actors among retailers, recipients, and employees. Lawmakers and regulators have spotlighted these vulnerabilities as they weigh additional oversight and administrative changes. Beginning in 2027, states with a high payment error rate are scheduled to reimburse the federal government for some administrative mistakes, a reform tied to accountability for improper payments.

Improper SNAP payments nationwide reached $10 billion in fiscal year 2025, a figure officials cite when arguing for tighter controls and better fraud detection. That scale of loss has spurred more audits and cross-agency information sharing to try to limit exploitation.

SNAP cards are typically mailed to a recipient’s address or handed out in person at a DHS office, and agencies often provide in-person pick-up options for people without stable housing. That delivery method creates several points where cards or data can be intercepted if safeguards fail. Agencies say ensuring secure issuance and limiting staff access are key prevention steps.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Moreira, who brought the case after the multiagency investigation. Investigators included the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, working alongside the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit and Program Integrity Fraud Detection and Prevention Unit. The probe received valuable assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Warwick Police Department, the Providence Police Department, the Woonsocket Police Department, and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.