Officer Chris Rankin

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Theft of Public Benefits

Texarkana Arkansas Police have arrested two individuals in connection with the investigation of two cases of Theft of Public Benefits. On 2/15/06 detectives met with representatives of the Texarkana Arkansas Housing Authority who reported discrepancies with the financial records of two individuals who had been receiving public benefits. Shawanna Battson (b/f/31y.o.a. Texarkana, AR), had applied for and received over $2,000 in housing assistance benefits, and in doing so claimed that she had no source of income. It was discovered that she was receiving the housing benefits while at the same time maintaining employment. After an investigation was complete, an arrest warrant was obtained for Battson and she was arrested and booked into the Bi-State Jail.

The second individual, Terry Jones (b/m/41y.o.a. Texarkana, AR), had applied for and received over $4,200 in housing assistance benefits while claiming that his only source of income was Social Security. It was later discovered that Jones had failed to report that he also received $700 in monthly veterans benefits. A warrant was obtained for Jones and he was arrested and booked into the Bi-State Jail. Each of the charges against these individuals is a felony, and a bond has not been set at the time of this report.

Each of these cases was also investigated by the Office of the Inspector General and the Housing Authority. The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department in cooperation with the Texarkana Housing Authority will investigate and prosecute all violations pertaining to fraudulently obtaining public benefits.

Again, Theft of Public Benefits over $200 is a felony crime. Anyone with information regarding individuals who may be involved in theft of public benefits is encouraged to call the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department or CrimeStoppers at (903)793-STOP.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.