Bay City Woman Collected $21K in Food Stamps While Hiding Son’s Income

People are going to flip out over this one, and rightfully so. A Bay City woman allegedly collected more than $21,000 in food benefits she was not entitled to while hiding the fact that her son had a job.

According to MLive, A 61-year-old Bay City woman is facing felony welfare fraud charges after investigators say she collected more than $21,000 in food benefits while not reporting her son’s income.

According to the Michigan Office of Inspector General, Sherry Bodhaine claimed her adult son lived with her and had no job when she applied for food assistance in 2021—and kept saying the same thing on renewal forms through 2024.

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Turns out, investigators say her son was working for Halliburton that whole time. Yup, just raking in that cash while she was allegedly scamming the system.

If his income had been reported, Bodhaine would have only qualified for about $192 in benefits, not the $21,529 she received.

She skipped a scheduled interview with investigators in May, and prosecutors filed charges in July. Bodhaine was arraigned on August 8 and released on bond. She’s due back in court on August 26.

Her son is not facing any charges.

And while this is just one person, it makes you wonder how many others are quietly collecting benefits they shouldn’t. $21,000 is real money that could have gone to families who truly need it.