Pembroke Pines woman charged in $120,000 SNAP benefits fraud case, cops say
About 200 people were victims of a fraud scheme tied to a Pembroke Pines woman who allegedly stole more than $120,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
The Pembroke Pines Police Department arrested 43-year-old Tamica Brown in her home on Tuesday, April 7, after a warrant was out for her arrest.
Brown remained in the Broward County Main Jail as of April 13 on charges of trafficking in counterfeit credit cards and criminal use of personal identification information, according to court records. Her bond was $300,000.
BSO deputies began investigating Brown on July 20, 2025, after officials responded to a call of fraudulent use of an electronic benefit transfer, or EBT card, at a Walmart located at 4700 S. Flamingo Road in Cooper City.
BSO says it has interviewed more than 30 fraud victims and identified about 200 more.
SNAP is a federally funded program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides nutrition assistance to those who qualify.
“The eight-month-long investigation revealed Brown, 43, operated an organized fraud scheme where she unlawfully obtained EBT card numbers belonging to SNAP recipients, associated PINs, and account balances from multiple sources,” BSO officials said in a news release.
“Evidence indicated that these card numbers were stolen by unknown means and transmitted to Brown electronically by way of phones.”
Detectives said Brown used the stolen information to make unauthorized purchases, primarily items such as energy drinks and sports drinks, and resell them. BSO officials say she sold the items to corner and convenience stores, turning the stolen government funds into personal profit.
Authorities also contend that Brown used stolen EBT information to make online purchases through retailers such as Amazon and Walmart, shipping items to addresses under her control.
From December 2024 through July 2025, the stolen accounts reflected a combined balance of $122,637.03, according to the arrest affidavit.
Investigators said communications between those involved stressed coordination and urgency to use the benefits before victims could access them. A search of Brown’s cellphone revealed text messages and other evidence linking her to the SNAP scheme, including hundreds of stolen card numbers and PINs saved in her phone’s notes application.
Brown acknowledged her role in the scheme and agreed to a profit split in which she kept 60% while another individual received 40%, according to the affidavit. Investigators said she referred to sending payments using the phrase “I’ll send you the bread,” as slang for sending the money.
“Many victims discovered that their benefits had been stolen only when they attempted to use their EBT/SNAP benefits to purchase food for themselves or their families,” the affidavit says.
“When they attempted to use their cards, they learned that the benefits had already been depleted, forcing them to leave the store without being able to purchase food for themselves or their families.”
The BSO Cooper City District led the investigation, in collaboration with the State Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Division, the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and Walmart.
