Brunswick Woman Sentenced For Stealing Food Stamps and Child Care Reimbursement Benefits

December 12, 2011

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Sarah E. Fairbanks, 40, of Brunswick, was sentenced today in Cumberland County Superior Court.

Fairbanks was convicted by a jury on November 30, 2011 of one count of Class B theft and two counts of unsworn falsification for providing false information to the Department of Health and Human Services in order to obtain welfare benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or Food Stamps) and Child Care Development Fund Voucher Program (CCDF).

Fairbanks was sentenced to five years imprisonment with all but thirteen months suspended, three years of probation and restitution in the amount of $59,816.38.

?The successful result in this case is due to the focused and effective partnership between DHHS and our prosecutors. We are committed to working together to ensure accountability for the proper use of our limited resources,? said Attorney General Schneider.

This case was investigated by the Maine DHHS Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit. Assistant Attorney General Peter Black handled this matter for Attorney General Schneider?s Criminal Division.