BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – A Berkeley County woman has been arrested after state investigators say she fraudulently received more than $18,700 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits over a two‑year period.
According to the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS), 33‑year‑old Danyelle Antionette Simmons was taken into custody on May 18 by Special Agents with the agency’s Office of Inspector General. She is charged with one count of Fraudulent Acquisition or Use of Food Stamps, greater than $10,000, a felony offense. Simmons was booked into the Berkeley County Detention Center.
DSS officials say Simmons “fraudulently received $18,712.00 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits” by intentionally underreporting her income on multiple required forms.
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Affidavit: Income underreported on five certification forms
An arrest affidavit included with the warrant states that Simmons “did knowingly and willfully by means of false statement and representation fraudulently receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits” between February 1, 2022, and January 31, 2024.
Investigators say Simmons submitted five annual certification or recertification forms—dated January 4, 2022; July 11, 2022; January 11, 2023; July 14, 2023; and January 8, 2024—in which she “intentionally underreported her gross income wages from employment with South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SC DJJ).”
As a result, DSS alleges she received an over‑issuance of $18,712 in benefits she was not entitled to.
Case to be prosecuted in Berkeley County
The case will be prosecuted by the 9th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office, which handles criminal matters in Berkeley and Charleston counties.
DSS emphasized that its Office of Inspector General “is dedicated to eradicating fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in programs administered by the agency.” The department encourages the public to report suspected fraud through its online portal or by calling its hotline at 1‑800‑694‑8518.
Officials also noted that Simmons, like all individuals charged with a crime, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
