LINCOLNTON, N.C. -- A Lincoln County woman has been charged and arrested for food stamp and identity theft fraud, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
On Tuesday, Sandra Lynn Gaul was pulled over for a routine traffic stop when the patrol deputy discovered a food stamp card in her purse belonging to a female living in Vale, North Carolina. The Vale woman has been in a nursing home since May.
After further investigation, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office says the food stamp card has continued to be used since June.
Felony warrants were issued charging Gaul with 12 counts of identity theft and eight misdemeanor counts of illegal possession and use of food stamps. She has since been arrested with additional charges including resist, delay and obstruct of a public officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.