Kansas City woman faces 20 years in prison for welfare fraud

She's not the only one: Whether its protecting the safety net for Americans who need help, or protecting tax dollars, this indictment is a small but telling data point in a debate that affects tens of millions of Americans and how much they pay to fund a welfare program plagued by fraudsters.

By Ashe Short

Published: July 16, 2026 10:48pm

A Kansas City woman was indicted on Friday for fraudulently obtaining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits between 2021 and 2026. Viridiana Luna-Mejia, 34, has been charged with one count of theft of government money and four counts of wire fraud related to that theft, the Department of Justice said in a press release. Between 2021 and 2026, Luna-Mejia allegedly made fraudulent statements to the Missouri Department of Social Services to obtain SNAP benefits, including hiding her income to continue to receive those benefits.

SNAP assists low-income individuals with monthly benefits to purchase food and benefits. Beneficiaries are subject to income restrictions and must re-certify their eligibility every six months while receiving benefits, according to the DOJ.

Faces up to 20 years in prison without parole

“As part of a broader employment investigation, it was discovered that Luna-Mejia’s employer had removed her from the wage and hour tax reporting required by the State of Missouri,” the DOJ alleged in its press release. “Further investigation determined Luna-Mejia had been receiving wages from that employer the entire time she received SNAP, but she did not report it on her recertifications. She also did not report the existence of her bank account in which she deposited her paychecks to further conceal her income. Investigators determined that had she been truthful about her income, she would have been ineligible for nearly $40,000 in benefits she received during that time.”

Luna-Mejia faces up to 20 years in prison without parole.

Indicting those who allegedly commit welfare fraud has been a priority of the Trump administration, with the DOJ announcing on April 7 that it would create the National Fraud Enforcement Division, which supports the work of President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a government-wide initiative chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance.

In February, 29-year-old LaTasha Thomas of Minnesota was sentenced to one year in prison followed by one year of supervised release for mail fraud, according to the DOJ. She was also ordered to pay $325,159 in restitution. Thomas and her daughter defrauded the SNAP program for two years by illegally acquiring Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to purchase groceries. Thomas created fake temporary drivers’ licenses and submitted them for EBT cards, alleging the recipients had medical issues requiring increased benefits and bolstering their fraud with fake doctor’s notes.

In March, Mississippi woman Katrina Harris entered a plea agreement after an investigation determined she had improperly received nearly $70,000 in SNAP benefits, the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) announced at the time. Harris was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $69,881 in fines, fees and restitution.

“This is a great example of the continued collaboration between our investigations team, MDHS county offices, District Attorneys, and local law enforcement,” Sandra Griffith, MDHS Inspector General, said in a press release.

Democrats fight against policing abuse of SNAP benefits

In May, 34-year-old Elise Roberts of New York was arrested and charged with fraud for allegedly acquiring nearly $37,000 in SNAP benefits, News 10 reported. Officials said she was later released on her own recognizance and given a return date to court.

Republicans have spent years trying to get SNAP benefits reined in but have been repeatedly met with Democrat opposition. Last year, Democrats opposed expanding work requirements for those obtaining SNAP benefits, with numerous left-wing organizations such as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Brookings Institution framing the issue as taking “food assistance away from millions of low-income people.”

House Republicans passed a budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which includes SNAP benefits, in June. The bill cuts SNAP benefits by about $6.2 billion, while still providing $101.2 billion in mandatory funding for the program.