Within 20 minutes of receiving information Friday that someone was attempting to sell their food stamp benefits, police had two people they believed were involved in the crime in custody.
Misty F. Woods, 34, and Joshua Turner, 33, who live together in Seymour, were arrested and face charges of welfare fraud, a class A misdemeanor, according to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Woods also faces felony charges of possession of a controlled substance and violation of the Legend Drug Act after Fentanyl patches were found in her possession.
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The events that led to the arrests of the two began Friday evening when county Officer Jesse Hutchinson received information that an unknown person had sent out a random text message saying they wanted to sell their food stamps for 50 cents.
That person turned out to be Woods, and the food stamps were those of Turner, police said.
Hutchinson contacted Reserve Deputy Scott Davis, who has a background in investigating welfare fraud crimes for the state. The two officers arranged to have Woods call Davis while he would pose as a potential buyer for the food stamps.
On the phone, Davis made arrangements with Woods to meet her near the entrance of the Jamestown Apartments on Miller Lane in Seymour to do the buy. While still on the phone, Woods also directed Davis to where she and Turner were standing and gave them a description of the clothing the two were wearing.
During the meeting, police said Woods offered to sell Davis $150 worth of food stamps for $75. At that point, Davis, Hutchinson and officers with the Seymour Police Department, arrested the pair, according to the news release.
Turner had just started receiving his food stamp benefits five days ago, according to documentation, police said. He was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown on a $705 bond. She was booked into jail and being held without bond, police said.
The welfare fraud charge is an A misdemeanor because the dollar amount involved was less than $250, according to police.