A Butler County woman is accused of illegally obtaining nearly $2,900 in public assistance benefits last year.

The Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General charged Michele L. Marcin, 37, of Evans City on June 3 with a first degree misdemeanor count of welfare fraud.

Between July 1 and Nov. 30, 2018, according to authorities, Marcin fraudulently collected $2,882 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

The SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps, is federally funded and offers nutrition to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families each year.

The defendant allegedly failed to report her true household income by intentionally withholding employment income received from another household member when she applied for benefits on June 30, 2018 through the Butler County Department of Human Services.

If convicted, Marcin faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $10,000 plus a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program.

A preliminary hearing before District Judge William Fullerton was not immediately scheduled.