LPD: Employee at Lincoln homeless shelter used stolen EBT cards to buy groceries

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – An employee at a homeless shelter in Lincoln was arrested Thursday in a fraud scheme, police say.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services contacted LPD about complaints from EBT benefit cardholders staying at the People’s City Mission.

The victims reported that they never received their EBT cards, which were mailed to the homeless shelter, according to police.

LPD said an employee, 53-year-old Lee Carr, stole the cards and used them to make about 63 purchases at grocery stores.

“We’re pretty devastated,” said Pastor Tom Barber, CEO of the People’s City Mission. “I can say for all the employees at the mission, we’re just dumbfounded. We don’t know what to think.”

Investigators estimate Carr totaled over $3,000 in unauthorized purchases.

On Thursday, Carr was taken into custody on suspicion of public assistance fraud.

Barber with the People’s City Mission told Channel 8 that Carr has been fired.

Barber described Carr — who worked as a supervisor in the men’s area for a decade — as a good employee who people and guests liked.

He called the entire situation “heartbreaking,” but added the mission will work to rectify the situation.

“We’re hoping through court records to find out who these victims were, and if we can, we hope to get a hold of them and pay them back whatever lee took,” Barber said.