Agents from the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI), under the direction of Attorney General Liz Murrill, have arrested a Benton couple accused of defrauding the Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits programs out of more than $126,000.
The investigation began after the Louisiana Department of Health referred allegations that Krystle Garcia, 38, a resident of Linton Bellevue Road in Benton and a Medicaid recipient, had underreported her income to receive public assistance. LBI agents determined that between October 2017 and June 2025, Garcia failed to accurately report her household income, did not disclose her marital status, and submitted false addresses to authorities. She also misrepresented whether health insurance was available through her husband’s employer.
According to investigators, Garcia lived with her employed husband at their Bossier Parish home but told officials she had no income and lived only with her minor children. Her husband, Cody Simmons, 39, participated in the scheme by maintaining private insurance for himself but not enrolling Garcia or their children in his employer’s optional health plan. Agents found evidence that Simmons used Garcia’s SNAP benefits card at local grocery stores to buy large quantities of goods.
The couple was arrested on February 18 and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges including government benefits fraud and unauthorized use of SNAP benefits. Their bond information has not been released. The case remains under investigation.
Attorney General Murrill stated: “If you defraud the system, we will find you and prosecute you.”
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Louisiana Department of Justice serves as the primary legal office for the state under an independently elected attorney general official website. The department provides services statewide official website and works to preserve Louisiana’s culture while protecting constitutional rights official website. Liz Murrill leads these efforts as attorney general official website, overseeing consumer protection initiatives and legal guidance across Louisiana official website.