Source: Office of United States Attorneys
CONCORD – A Franklin man pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing more than $118,000 in Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and childcare benefits, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Ryan Leblanc, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of making False Statements. U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for March 31, 2025.
Leblanc was living with the mother of his children but did not list her as part of his household. He instead falsely told the New Hampshire Department of Health Human Services that she was an “absent parent” and had not lived with him for several years. Leblanc applied for SNAP benefits and childcare benefits multiple times between March 2019 and December 2023, and each time omitted his partner from his household. Because of that, he underreported household income and financial resources and was able to get over $118,000 in SNAP benefits and childcare payments that he was ineligible for.
The charge of False Statements provides for a sentence of up to 5 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
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