Shakopee Inmate Found Guilty of Felony Fraud, Gets Added Prison Time

Sep 21

A 57-year-old woman incarcerated at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee has been sentenced for orchestrating a large-scale public benefits fraud scheme while serving time.

Pamela Ann Williams earlier pled guilty to one felony count of wrongfully obtaining assistance by false statements, concealment, or impersonation.

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Prosecutors said Williams illegally continued receiving state medical, food, and cash benefits after entering prison in January 2024 and also coordinated with others to submit fraudulent personal care assistant timesheets. Investigators found more than $59,000 in fraudulent medical assistance payments along with thousands in SNAP and general assistance benefits tied to her account.

PREVIOUSLY: Shakopee Prisoner Stole $63K in Public Assistance Funds, Charges Say

Williams admitted in April to pleading guilty to the single count in exchange for dismissal of three other felony charges, including theft by swindle. As part of the plea deal, she agreed to a reduced sentence, restitution of $63,716.56, and a transfer of nearly $8,700 from her prison account toward repayment.

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On Sept. 15, a judge sentenced Williams to 30 months in prison, with credit for 624 days already served. She must also pay the full restitution amount, along with court fees. The sentence will run concurrent with her current incarceration, and she will serve two-thirds of the term in custody and the remainder on supervised release.

According to the criminal complaint, surveillance footage and recorded prison calls linked Williams to at least two accomplices who used her benefits card and posed as her care providers to funnel money into her prison account. One accomplice was identified on video withdrawing cash, while another submitted false claims as her personal care assistant.

Williams has multiple prior convictions for assault, property damage, and violating no contact orders.

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