October 17, 2025
The Michigan lady accused of utilizing meals stamps to fund her on-line baking enterprise rejected a plea deal.
The Michigan lady who gained nationwide consideration for allegedly utilizing meals stamps to fund her on-line bakery has rejected a plea deal.
On Oct. 8, Talia C. Teneyuque, 32, rejected a plea deal that will have saved a conviction off her file, M Dwell reported. She faces felony expenses of meals stamp fraud exceeding $1,000, punishable by as much as 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fantastic.
On the listening to, Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Aaron M. Majorana mentioned he would drop the felony cost if Teneyuque pleaded responsible or no contest to a one-year misdemeanor rely of larceny between $200 and $1,000. Accepting the provide would have allowed the prosecution to suggest a delayed sentence, successfully putting her on probation.
She additionally would have had the choice to repay the quantity owed, both in full or via garnished Bridge Card advantages, with the conviction not remaining on her file. Nevertheless, Teneyuque’s protection lawyer, Emilie Okay. Lyday, said that her consumer was rejecting the plea deal and wished to maneuver ahead with witness testimony.
Kristie M. Giorgis, an eligibility specialist with Saginaw County’s Division of Well being and Human Providers, testified that Teneyuque was not violating any guidelines by receiving advantages whereas working her baking enterprise. She recalled talking to Teneyuque when she utilized for meals help and state-of-emergency aid from Customers Vitality in December 2021, disclosing throughout a telephone interview that she lived along with her 5 youngsters and ran a home-based baking enterprise.
Giorgis testified that Teneyuque spent 20 to 30 hours per week baking and bought her items on-line for about $1,000 per thirty days via CashApp. Teneyuque reportedly spent half of her earnings on baking provides. DHS accepted her software, and he or she signed an settlement promising to “use my advantages legally and won’t promote, commerce, or give away my advantages on-line or in particular person.”
Regulatory Agent Katrina Tibbits of MDHHS’s Workplace of Inspector Basic testified that in 2023, Teneyuque reported incomes solely about $305 per thirty days, which she mentioned was inadequate to cowl her payments. Tibbits added {that a} search of social media led her to what she believes is Teneyuque’s baking enterprise web page, Luvn a Jar.
“It appeared there was the potential for her to be making way more than $300,” Tibbits mentioned.
The listening to concluded with Decide Clark approving Assistant Prosecutor Majorana’s request to ship Teneyuque’s case to Circuit Court docket for trial. She stays free on bond.
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