HASTINGS MN: — A Hastings woman has been charged with a felony after prosecutors alleged she wrongfully received more than $35,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits over a period spanning more than three years.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County District Court, Angela Marie Judge is charged with one felony count of theft by wrongfully obtaining assistance through a false statement, concealment or impersonation involving more than $35,000.
Prosecutors allege that between July 2022 and December 2025, Judge falsely represented to SNAP that the father of her child did not live with her at her Hastings residence. The complaint alleges the man actually resided with Judge and was employed by a local business.
According to the complaint, the alleged inaccurate household information resulted in $35,151 in SNAP overpayments.
Court documents allege Judge submitted an initial SNAP application in July 2022 without listing the father of her child as a household member. Prosecutors allege five subsequent SNAP payments resulted in $3,571 in overpayments.
The complaint alleges Judge continued reporting on several SNAP forms between 2023 and 2025 that no one had moved into or out of her household. Prosecutors claim benefits received following those reports resulted in additional overpayments, including $5,254 following a January 2023 report, $4,531 following a June 2023 household update, $4,114 following a December 2023 report, $6,246 following a June 2024 update, $4,830 following a January 2025 report and $6,605 following a June 2025 update.
SNAP payments ended in 2025, according to the complaint.
Investigators also allege Judge told law enforcement that she and the father of her child moved to Hastings together in 2022 and that he lived and slept at the household for the “majority” of each year from 2022 through 2025. The complaint states she told investigators he occasionally traveled out of state but not for periods long enough to lose his local employment.
Judge is charged under Minnesota Statute 256.98 with wrongfully obtaining assistance. Because prosecutors allege the value exceeded $35,000, the charge carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine.
The allegations contained in the criminal complaint are accusations. Judge is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.