A Gaithersburg man has pleaded guilty in federal court to a wide-ranging fraud and identity theft scheme involving stolen identities, SNAP benefits, and passport fraud.
Brendyn Andrew, 34, pleaded guilty to all charges contained in a 10-count superseding indictment, including SNAP benefits fraud, possession of unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and tampering with a witness, victim, or informant, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Federal prosecutors said Andrew was initially indicted by a grand jury in February 2025 on charges of aggravated identity theft, SNAP benefits fraud, misuse of a social security number, and theft of government property. A superseding indictment returned in May 2025 added additional charges, including possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, passport fraud, and witness tampering. The superseding indictment also named Dominique Collins, 38, of Stafford, Virginia, as a co-defendant on a witness tampering charge. Collins is scheduled to stand trial in April 2026.
Court records state that between February and June 2021, Andrew used an online Department of Human Services system to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits using the identities of other individuals. Prosecutors said Andrew intentionally misrepresented his identity to obtain the benefits and later possessed multiple EBT cards issued in the names of those victims.
During the execution of a search warrant in October 2022, law enforcement officers found Andrew in possession of more than 15 EBT cards belonging to other individuals. In February 2024, investigators said Andrew submitted a U.S. passport application in the name of another person, unlawfully using that individual’s social security number. He successfully obtained the passport and used it as his own.
While detained at the Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore in March 2025 on the original indictment, Andrew allegedly contacted Collins by phone and asked her to attempt to delete an email account to prevent it from being used in an official proceeding.
Andrew faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence. He also faces up to five years in prison for SNAP benefits fraud and misuse of a social security number, up to 10 years for theft of government property, up to 10 years for possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, up to 15 years for passport fraud, and up to 20 years for tampering with a witness, victim, or informant.
Federal officials credited multiple agencies for their role in the investigation and prosecution, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and the Montgomery County Police Department.
