2 more indicted in alleged Arkansas food program fraud

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Two more people have been indicted in an alleged scheme to defraud a federally funded food program for low-income children in Arkansas.

The U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Arkansas announced the indictments Thursday, saying 37-year-old Anthony Waits and 50-year-old Dorothy Harper are charged with conspiracy to fraudulently obtain U.S. Department of Agriculture program funds. Harper is also charged with 16 counts of wire fraud.

Three other women, including two Arkansas Department of Human Services workers, were indicted in December on related charges.

Authorities allege Harper paid Waits cash to give to his wife, who was one of the DHS workers and was previously indicted, so she would approve inflated numbers of how many meals were provided.

Authorities say the scheme cost the program millions of dollars.

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The Gayly - 11/13/2015 @ 3:07 p.m. CST