Department of Social Services employee pleads guilty to stealing food stamps
Amalia Escalante Barrientos used voucher at Brookings grocery store
PIERRE — A former Department of Social Services employee has been sentenced after pleading guilty to using a food stamp voucher, intended for low-income families, for personal use.
Amalia Escalante Barrientos, 28, of Brookings, pleaded guilty in Brookings County Circuit Court to one misdemeanor count of obtaining money, property, or assistance by fraud from Social Services or related programs. She was sentenced to 180 days suspended in jail, and ordered to pay a $400 fine, $96.50 in court costs and $449.98 in restitution.
NEWS: South Dakotans congratulate Noem, Rhoden as they ascend to new roles
“This case highlights the abuse of trust by an individual in a position of responsibility, using their authority for personal gain, which ultimately harms those who rely on state assistance,” said Attorney General Marty Jackley. “The Attorney General’s Office remains committed to investigating and prosecuting such misconduct to restore the public’s trust in state government and ensure that public resources are used for their intended purposes.”
The case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, which determined that Barrientos used the DSS-issued grocery voucher to purchase food for herself at a business in Brookings on Oct. 11, 2024. The voucher was intended for families in need, and the misuse of such resources prompted the investigation.
Barrientos is the third former state employee to be charged and convicted of a financial crime since last year, and one of several more to be accused of crimes. A fellow former DSS employee, Lonna Carroll, is awaiting trial amid allegations she stole $1.8 million from the department.
NEWS: Sen. Amber Hulse’s voter ID bills turn friends into enemies
