Brunswick County DSS worker investigated in largest fraud case in years

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the largest fraud case they’ve seen in years.

A former Brunswick County DSS worker was arrested earlier this week for obtaining property under false pretenses.

Investigators say April Stucks used the personal identification of people living outside of North Carolina and submitted their information to obtain public assistance benefits.

Detectives say she then cashed the checks herself at a small grocery store in Wilmington. Five others were involved in the scam.

Brunswick County detective Vince Saponaro explained, “She would sign them up for benefits that they were not eligible for, people who weren’t Brunswick county residents, and in exchange she would ask for half of the money back.”

The checks Stucks allegedly cashed totaled more than $100,000 in state and federal funds.

Stucks was in Brunswick County jail, but immediately posted her $50,000 bond. She will make her first appearance in District Court tomorrow.