By Another former employee of the state of South Dakota is accused of abusing their job for financial gain.
Attorney General Marty Jackley’s office announced Thursday that a former South Dakota Department of Social Services employee has been charged with using a DSS grocery voucher, intended for families in need, for personal use.
“It is alleged this defendant abused her position by using resources intended to help others for her own personal gain,” Jackley said in a release. “The Attorney General’s Office intends to continue to prosecute these cases to regain the public’s trust in state government. I appreciate the Department of Social Services’ cooperation throughout this investigation.”
Amalia Escalante Barrientos, 28, of Brookings is charged with one misdemeanor count of obtaining money, property or assistance by fraud from social services or related programs. The maximum penalty is one-year in the county jail and a $2,000 fine.
An investigation by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation found that Barrientos had used the voucher, which is provided by DSS to families the department works with, to purchase groceries for her own personal use, according to a news release. The incident allegedly occurred at a Brookings business on Oct. 11, 2024.
Barrientos becomes the latest in a string of former state employees accused of criminally misusing state resources in recent months.
At least five others became subjects of law enforcement probes in the last year for financial malfeasance related to their positions in government. Of those, four cases centered around state workers who were fired and eventually charged with crimes by the Attorney General’s Office. One did not result in charges because the alleged perpetrator had died by the time the conduct was discovered by authorities.
Barrientos has not yet made her initial court appearance.