A Franklin resident has admitted guilt in federal court for stealing over $118,000 in welfare benefits. Ryan Leblanc, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements, as announced by U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.
The case is set for sentencing on March 31, 2025, by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro.
Leblanc lived with his children's mother but did not include her in his household information. He falsely informed the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services that she was an "absent parent" and had not resided with him for several years. From March 2019 to December 2023, Leblanc applied for Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and childcare benefits multiple times without listing his partner as part of the household. This omission allowed him to underreport household income and resources, resulting in more than $118,000 in benefits he was not eligible to receive.
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine reaching $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the crime.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is handling prosecution duties.