Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Zanesville Woman Sentenced for Welfare Benefits Fraud
A Zanesville woman was sentenced in Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas for lying on food stamp applications.
On September 23, Serena L. Norman, 26, of Zanesville, appeared before Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill. Judge Cottrill sentenced her to 30 days in local jail. She is required to serve 50 hours of community service and to repay $29,895 in restitution.
Norman is also banned for life from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as part of the plea agreement
On September 22, Norman pleaded guilty to one count of felony illegal use of SNAP benefits.
From June 2019 until July 2023, Norman completed multiple application forms but lied about income from the father of her children, who lived with her.
Norman had another child in April 2021. Norman lied to case workers and said the father was not living in the home with her.
Muskingum County Associate Prosecutor Gerald Anderson says benefits fraud and abuse is unfortunately too common.
“We continue to see multiple cases of individuals lying to illegally obtain benefits,” Anderson said. “Our hope is that people will stop trying to abuse the system so that these programs can help the families they are designed to assist.”
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