JACKSON, Miss. — A DeSoto County woman has entered a plea agreement following an investigation into fraudulent receipt of public assistance benefits, the Mississippi Department of Human Services announced.
Kayla Smith of DeSoto County pleaded guilty in DeSoto County Circuit Court on April 2, 2026, in a case involving the improper receipt of Childcare Payment Program benefits. Investigators determined Smith received $37,852.78 in benefits after failing to accurately report her household income.
Smith was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $39,152.78 in fines, fees and restitution.
The case was investigated by the MDHS Office of Inspector General’s Division of Investigation, which handles cases involving fraud, waste and abuse in public assistance programs. The division, established in 2018, has recovered millions of dollars in overpayments, according to the agency.
“This investigation and plea agreement demonstrates that our efforts to protect public resources are working as intended,” said MDHS Executive Director Robert G. “Bob” Anderson in a statement. “Every step we take to prevent fraud ensures that resources and support will continue to reach the Mississippians who need it most.”
MDHS officials said suspected fraud can be reported through the agency’s online tip form, by phone or by email.
