PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A supervisor with the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) has been arrested on alleged benefits fraud, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced Tuesday.

Nadine Jean Baptiste, 57, (left) & Octavia Jean Baptiste, 27, (right) | Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles

Nadine Jean Baptiste, 57, of Warwick, is accused of stealing people’s personal information to access their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and using it to buy groceries.

According to a court affidavit, Nadine and her daughter, Octavia Jean Baptiste, 27, fraudulently gained access to hundreds of EBT cards, worth a total of more than $191,000.

The RI Office of Internal Audit launched an investigation in September 2023 after receiving complaints from SNAP recipients about missing EBT cards.

Nadine, who has worked for the state for more than a decade, is currently a chief clerk at the DHS office in Providence, prosecutors said. In this role, she supervises customer service representatives and has full access to EBT card printers.

Presumably Octavia Jean Baptiste leaving Market Basket in Warwick

The affidavit states that from January 2020 to July 2024, Nadine accessed SNAP recipients’ personal information to check EBT card balances and change PINs to use the cards.

According to Cunha’s office, she allegedly made approximately 1,817 phone calls to 408 EBT cards, while Octavia requested the balance of approximately 95 cards more than 300 times.

Prosecutors say surveillance footage from June through August of this year shows Nadine making more than $2,000 in SNAP purchases using 16 different EBT cards at various stores.

Nadine Jean Baptiste uses EBT card issued to Octavia at Dave’s Market in Warwick on July 18, 2024

Nadine Jean Baptiste uses EBT card issued to a minor on July 31, 2024 at Pacific Seafood Market in Providence

Nadine Jean Baptiste uses an EBT card issued to a minor on August 1, 2024 at Dave’s Market in Warwick

Cuhna’s office noted that some of the victims were children and individuals who were homeless or incarcerated at the time. Court documents showed that the mother of an 8-year-old had trouble getting benefits in Florida because her son’s identity was being used in Rhode Island.

Nadine and Octavia are facing federal charges of aggravated identity fraud, wire fraud, illegally obtaining or using SNAP benefits, and conspiracy.

Both appeared in court on Tuesday and were released on bail.

DHS spokesman Jim Beardsworth urged SNAP beneficiaries who suspect fraudulent activity to submit a fraud reporting form.

He also advised EBT users to change their PINs regularly and monitor their account balances. DHS will never ask for PINs or EBT numbers, he said.

For assistance changing your PIN, please call ebtEdge at 1-888-979-9939 or click here to log in online.