On January 6, 2025, the Defendant submitted a Combined Application form to Douglas County Social Services for assistance. She reported no self-employment income and told a DCSS worker that self- employment had ended in September 2024. She denied applying for or receiving unemployment insurance. When asked if she received unemployment benefits, the Defendant said she had applied but it was still being processed. The Defendant reported having one checking account at Mid-Minnesota Bank. She signed the application under penalty of perjury.
Based on the information provided, the Defendant was approved for SNAP benefits in the amount of $536 per month. Investigation revealed that the Defendant received unemployment benefits from the State of Minnesota in the amount of $3,785 in January 2025. That same month, she received $789.55 in her PayPal account for braiding hair. On June 22, 2025, the Defendant submitted a Combined Six-Month Report to DCSS. She reported beginning work through Doherty Staffing but failed to report any self-employment income from hair braiding.
She also failed to report unemployment compensation. She again signed the form under penalty of perjury. SNAP benefits continued. Investigation revealed that the Defendant received $1,865.58 in May 2025 and $1,172.71 in June 2025 in her PayPal account for braiding hair. This self-employment income was not reported to DCSS. On December 26, 2025, the Defendant submitted a Combined Application form to DCSS for Emergency Assistance. She indicated a household income for that month of $0 and denied self-employment.
She reported a household consisting of herself and her daughter. During the interview, a DCSS worker asked the Defendant if she was still braiding hair, and she acknowledged she was. The Defendant reported making $200 braiding hair in the last month. She denied receiving unemployment income. She reported no unearned income since August 2025. The Defendant reported receiving $800 per month from her child’s father to help pay rent and claimed to only use PayPal for a bank account. She signed the form under penalty of perjury.
SNAP benefits continued. Investigation revealed that the Defendant received $2,356 in unemployment benefits, $245 for braiding hair, and $2,039.90 from her child’s father in December 2025. An unreported checking account for the Defendant at Wells Fargo Bank was also discovered, where much of this income was deposited. On December 30, 2025, the Defendant submitted a supplemental application for Emergency Assistance. She reported receiving $856 in income in November 2025. Investigation revealed that the Defendant received $2,356 in unemployment benefits, $176 for braiding 3 ••-CR-••-•••• Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 6/11/2026 hair, and $1,578.62 from her child’s father in November 2025. The Defendant’s request for Emergency Assistance was subsequently denied.
