HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A 40-year-old Chicago woman faces nearly four years in federal prison for using fraudulent federal nutrition benefit checks to purchase nearly $220,000 worth of items at Kmart stores in 11 states, including Washington, during a four-month crime spree.
Lynada Mahone was arrested in Arizona, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in December 2018 and was sentenced Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Mahone made purchases, including gift cards, using fraudulent WIC program checks. Stores didn’t immediately discover the fraud and Mahone made multiple transactions at stores if the scheme was successful.
Prosecutors said Mahone made 56 fraudulent transactions at stores throughout western states.