A Hilo grand jury indicted a former supervisor at the state Department of Human Services for allegedly stealing about $45,000 in public assistance, or welfare, benefits from the office.
A Hilo grand jury indicted a former supervisor at the state Department of Human Services for allegedly stealing about $45,000 in public assistance, or welfare, benefits from the office.
The indictment dated Sept. 10 charges 52-year-old Jeanette Ryder of Mountain View with first-degree theft. According to the indictment, between Jan. 1-March 31, 2013, “in a continuing course of conduct” Ryder “did obtain, or exert control over, the property of the State of Hawaii by deception with intent to deprive the State of Hawaii of the property … .”
A bench warrant was issued for Ryder’s arrest, setting her bail at $10,000.
State Deputy Attorney General Mike Kagami said Monday that Ryder “created three fictitious accounts, put (the state’s) money into the accounts and drew it out.”
Kagami said Ryder used electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards and went to numerous automated teller machines to withdraw the funds. He said Ryder was identified from surveillance photos taken while making the ATM withdrawals.
First-degree theft is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
A check of court records turned up no prior criminal convictions for Ryder.