Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty in SNAP Benefits Fraud Case

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A Virginia woman has admitted to charges of tampering with evidence in a federal court, a plea stemming from her efforts to assist her boyfriend who is accused of a SNAP benefits fraud scheme. The case, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, involves a broader investigation into fraudulent activities.

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Dominique Collins, a 38-year-old resident of Stafford, Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a witness, victim, or informant. Court documents indicate that Collins attempted to help her boyfriend, Brendyn Andrew, alter an email account that was associated with the alleged fraud scheme. Andrew, 34, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, faces multiple charges related to SNAP benefits fraud and other offenses.

The plea agreement details that in March 2025, while Andrew was detained at the Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore, Maryland, he communicated with Collins by phone. During this conversation, Andrew allegedly instructed Collins to delete a specific Google email account to prevent it from being used in an official investigation. Following this request, Collins initiated a process with Google to delete the account. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) and the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), were involved in the investigation.

Collins is now facing a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, with her sentencing scheduled for July 2 of this year. This plea comes after Andrew himself pleaded guilty in January 2026 to a superseding indictment comprising 10 federal charges. These charges against Andrew include SNAP benefits fraud, possession of unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and witness tampering. His sentencing is anticipated on May 22, 2026.

The investigation received assistance from the Montgomery County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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