A Dakota County Financial Specialist referred a case involving Ralph Patrick Dinkins [DOB REDACTED], to the Dakota County Sherriff’s Office. DINKINS had applied for both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) while he was living in New York. DINKINS falsely reported that he was living in Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota. DINKINS’ fiancé confirmed that DINKINS moved to New York and has been living there since April of 2024. DINKINS received the following overpayments from April 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025: DINKINS received $1,367.00 in overpayments from SNAP. DINKINS received $1,458.00 in overpayments from MSA. Total overpayments from Dakota County Assistance Programs are $2,825.00. Deputies were able to contact DINKINS’ fiancé, and she told deputies the following: DINKINS has been living in New York since April of 2024. She has filled out at least one financial assistance application for DINKINS in Minnesota per DINKINS’ request.
She did not fill out DINKINS’ most recent financial assistance application which was submitted in April of 2025. DINKINS sent her his Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card because he could not use it in New York. DINKINS requested that she withdraw the cash from his EBT card and transfer the money to him. DINKINS’ fiancé sent an email to Dakota County alerting the County that DINKINS moved to New York because she knew he should not be receiving Minnesota assistance benefits.
