SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A significant fraud case has emerged from Seminole County, casting a shadow over the integrity of public assistance programs. On Thursday, authorities apprehended Taiwan Jackson-Hines, a former resident of Sanford, on charges of siphoning over $50,000 from state-supported benefits.

According to state investigators, Jackson-Hines, aged 40, had been drawing benefits from Medicaid, Food Stamps, and the School Readiness program over a two-year period, spanning from 2021 to 2023. During this time, she portrayed herself as a single parent, claiming only she and her three children resided in her household.

This portrayal allowed Jackson-Hines to secure substantial financial aid from these programs. However, a critical discovery in 2023 unraveled the facade. Her application for the School Readiness program was denied when officials unearthed that she was living with her spouse, Nelson Hines, contrary to her previous claims.

Upon this revelation, investigators insisted that Jackson-Hines amend her application to accurately reflect her husband’s presence in the household. This requirement exposed her actual financial status, resulting in her benefits being revoked.

The affidavit succinctly summarizes the outcome: “The Coalition terminated Taiwan Jackson’s benefits due to being ineligible over-income.” This case underscores the importance of vigilance and integrity in the administration of public assistance programs.

“The Coalition terminated Taiwan Jackson’s benefits due to being ineligible over-income,” the affidavit reads.

Since then, investigators have announced that Nelson Hines had been living with Jackson-Hines since 2019, and his income had been over $130,000 during the period in which Jackson-Hines was applying for benefits.

As a result, investigators claimed that Jackson-Hines had received excessive public assistance benefits in the following amounts:

On Thursday, court records show that Nassau County deputies transported Jackson-Hines to the Seminole County jail, where she now faces two counts of grand theft over $20,000, and two counts of obtaining benefits under public assistance programs by fraud.

Jackson-Hines is held on bond of $35,000. Her next court date is scheduled for Dec. 16.