Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office Announces Florida Man Found Guilty of EBT Fraud, Identity Theft

By  //  September 20, 2018

investigation revealed that perp used personal victim information to apply for Food Stamp benefits

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution today announced the conviction of a Florida man for public assistance fraud and identity theft. Michelson Janvier obtained the personal identification information—date of births, social security numbers and names—of more than 85 victims, with some evidence suggesting up to 500 victims.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution today announced the conviction of a Florida man for public assistance fraud and identity theft.

Michelson Janvier obtained the personal identification information—date of births, social security numbers and names—of more than 85 victims, with some evidence suggesting up to 500 victims.

A Palm Beach County jury found Janvier guilty on two counts of public assistance fraud and two counts of identity theft.

The conviction is a result of a larger investigation under a joint task force consisting of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the United States Attorney’s Office.

The investigation revealed that Janvier used personal victim information to apply for Food Stamp benefits or SNAP/EBT benefits through DCF.

The defendant physically obtained EBT cards in the victims’ names and used those cards to make purchases at numerous South Florida retailers and to traffic in food stamps at the Opa Locka Flea Market in Hialeah.

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution today announced the conviction of a Florida man for public assistance fraud and identity theft.
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Janvier is guilty of public assistance fraud in the amount of more than $20,000, but less than $100,000, and more than $200 but less $20,000 in public assistance fraud.

Additionally, the jury found Janvier guilty of criminal use of personal identification information of a deceased individual and 30 or more other individuals.

The Honorable Cheryl Caracuzzo presided over this case. Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Jonathan Bridges and Patricia Abdi prosecuted this case.

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