Lehigh Co. Employee Accused of Stealing SNAP Benefit Money

A Pittsburgh woman who was working for Lehigh County as its EBT Coordinator has been charged with felony theft and other charges for allegedly stealing more than $20,000 in SNAP benefit money that should have been received by food-insecure local families.

According to a news release from the Lehigh County District Attorney’s office, 46-year-old Sheila McDonald was hired in January 2024 and was responsible for securing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that were mailed from the Lehigh County Assistance Office to SNAP recipients. As coordinator, she had access to the recipients’ dates of birth, Social Security numbers and other personal information.

An investigation began nearly a year ago, authorities said, when the assistance office “alerted the Office of State Inspector General that an EBT card mailed from the office never reached the recipient despite four unauthorized transactions having been made.”

“The investigation revealed that card had been activated by a PIN entered via the phone and a balance inquiry was made on Nov. 7, 2025,” the DA’s office’s news release said.

“On Nov. 19, 2025, investigators found surveillance videos tied to the four fraudulent transactions made on the EBT card,” it said. “Those videos showed a person identified as McDonald using the EBT card to withdraw $20 in cash and to make purchases at a convenience store and grocery store. The investigation revealed the undelivered EBT card had been activated through a cell phone number used by McDonald…(and) showed that same cell phone number used by McDonald had also been used to activate or check the balance on different EBT cards.”

Investigators said they interviewed one of McDonald’s alleged associates, who told them she often traded him EBT cards for crack cocaine.

“In total, the investigation uncovered 48 EBT cards that had been activated by McDonald and unlawfully used more than 270 times resulting in a theft amount of $20,558.61,” the release said.

The release stated that McDonald has been suspended from her job the by state Department of Human Services, which also removed her access to government data and issued replacement EBT cards to the households that were affected by the thefts.

The DA’s office said McDonald is in custody, but has not yet received a preliminary arraignment on the charges, which include theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, access device fraud, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.

The court docket filed in the case indicated that she is being represented by the Lehigh County Public Defender’s office.

Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using information provided by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s office and Lehigh County court records.