Cassville woman issued summons for allegedly stealing $38K

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

A Cassville woman has been charged with two felonies for allegedly defrauding the state of public assistance benefits to the tune of nearly $40,000.

Jeniffer Rice, born 1990, of Cassville, is charged with stealing ($25,000 or more) and unlawfully receiving public assistance benefits.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Ashley Peters, special agent with the Missouri Department of Social Services, between September 2020 and February 2025, Rice allegedly intentionally and fraudulently misrepresented her household information to the family support division on five applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and five SNAP mid certification review forms to obtain benefits for which she was not eligible.

Rice allegedly did not report all income and resources to which she had access. As a result, she received $38,391 in SNAP benefits for which she was not eligible.

A criminal summons has been issued for Rice, with the initial appearance set for March 5 at 8:30 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke.