State worker fired after reporting SNAP theft scheme

A longtime Michigan state employee says he was fired after exposing a scheme where his colleagues allegedly stole taxpayer-funded food benefits from a program that feeds 1.4 million low-income residents.

Ashanta Butler worked for the state for 23 years with no complaints before he was fired on April 24, 2024, according to the complaint he filed on July 25 in the Eastern District of Michigan.

“In or around early 2024, Plaintiff reported concerns to the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Michigan regarding fraudulent activity by State employees who were allegedly conspiring to unlawfully receive public benefits, including food assistance.”

The complaint implicated state employee Angela Barbee.

“Shortly after Plaintiff made the protected report, her supervisor, Rachel Hill, informed her that she had been instructed by Manager Angela Barbee to target and ‘get rid of’ Plaintiff due to her cooperation with the Michigan Department of Corrections and her role as a whistleblower. Angela Barbee, who was later transferred to another office for engaging in similar misconduct, was among the managers implicated in the benefits fraud reported by Plaintiff.”

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services hasn’t responded to a request for comment. Butler seeks a trial by jury and compensation.

If state employees conspired to steal food benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that feeds more than 1.3 million Michiganders, then it could explain a nearly 400% spike in benefits fraud discovered by Michigan Capitol Confidential. The department mailed over 269,000 replacement Bridge Cards in 2024.

In June 2024, criminals stole $250,000 from Michigan families through the SNAP program, CapCon reported in April. In one weekend of 2025, criminals stole $75,000 in SNAP benefits.

In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice charged an employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and five other individuals with stealing $66 million of food stamps.

Every month, Michigan disburses $250 million in food benefits on Bridge Cards that use obsolete magnetic strip technology. The magnetic stripe cards can be cloned and spent at most grocery stores nationwide. Criminals steal millions of dollars from hungry people.

The state health department has nearly 16,000 employees, according to Mackinac Center research, making it the biggest department in Michigan’s government.

CapCon is compiling reported food stamp fraud across Michigan. If you know a Michigander whose food stamps have been stolen, reach out to CapCon.