Black woman in Michigan faces 10 years in prison for selling baked goods made with food stamps [VIDEO]

Talia C. Teneyuque’s case has sparked outrage online after prosecutors claimed she used food stamp benefits to buy baking ingredients — a felony that could carry a decade-long sentence.

A 32-year-old Michigan woman, Talia C. Teneyuque, is facing felony charges after allegedly using her food stamp benefits to buy ingredients for baked goods that she later sold on social media. Prosecutors say that between January 2022 and September 2023, she purchased groceries using her EBT Bridge Card and turned those items into baked treats. Therefore, reselling them for profit — a violation of federal food stamp regulations.

Teneyuque now faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. The story, which first surfaced through a post by @RaphouseTV, has ignited national debate about class, race, and fairness in welfare enforcement. As a result, many users are calling her prosecution “a punishment for being resourceful.”

A $1,000 Threshold Turns a Hustle Into a Felony

According to prosecutors, the alleged fraud totaled over $1,000, enough to elevate the case to a felony under both Michigan law and federal SNAP guidelines. Authorities claim Teneyuque used her EBT benefits that were issued through the state’s Bridge Card program. She used them to buy groceries like flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. After that, she placed them for resale as baked goods through her online bakery page.

SNAP benefits are designed for personal consumption. So, federal statutes classify any resale of items purchased with food stamps as “trafficking.” In other words, turning EBT-funded ingredients into sellable goods is treated the same way as exchanging food stamps for cash.

Teneyuque was arraigned in Saginaw County Court and appeared alongside her attorney. Later, she was released on a $50,000 bond. She rejected a plea deal in early October. Therefore, signaling her intent to fight the charge at trial.

Courtroom Image Becomes Symbol of Disparity

The courtroom image — Teneyuque standing beside her attorney in glasses and a navy jacket — has become a lightning rod for commentary. Many online compared her calm, subdued posture with the severity of her potential sentence.

Critics say the image encapsulates a justice system that criminalizes survival. “They’re trying to lock up a woman for making cupcakes, while billionaires steal millions in welfare money,” wrote one reply on X.

Prosecutors argue the law is clear: SNAP funds cannot be used to generate profit. But supporters see her case as a reflection of systemic hypocrisy. There, minor infractions by working-class individuals draw more scrutiny than massive financial scandals by public figures.

Federal Food Stamp Rules Leave Little Wiggle Room

Under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), all benefits must go toward food for household consumption. Buying ingredients to resell or to produce goods for sale is explicitly forbidden under 7 U.S.C. § 2024, a statute written to prevent “trafficking” and protect taxpayer funds.

Violations exceeding $100 can already be classified as felonies in many states. In Teneyuque’s case, the amount reportedly exceeded $1,000, making her eligible for the maximum 10-year sentence — the same penalty given to large-scale SNAP trafficking or retailer fraud cases.

According to the USDA, however, fraud accounts for less than 1% of the $120 billion program, while administrative errors (like overpayments) make up roughly 11%. Critics argue that the focus on small-scale violators like Teneyuque reflects misplaced enforcement priorities. Thus, targeting poor individuals rather than system-level fraud.

Public Outcry Over Unequal Justice

The case has gone viral because of what people see as an extreme punishment for a relatively small act. Social media users quickly drew comparisons to Brett Favre’s $1.1 million welfare scandal, where the former NFL star faced civil suits but no criminal charges.

“Ten years for selling cupcakes while Brett Favre keeps his golf schedule? Make it make sense,” one user wrote. Others highlighted how white-collar welfare abuse rarely leads to incarceration. Meanwhile, working-class defendants — especially Black women — are more likely to face felony prosecution.

On platforms like X and TikTok, users shared memes and think pieces under hashtags like #FreeTalia and #WelfareJustice. Therefore, framing the case as emblematic of how economic survival is criminalized in America.

A System That Punishes Hustle

Many online have reframed Teneyuque’s case as a story about entrepreneurship and survival. With food inflation up over 25% since 2019, countless Americans have turned to side hustles to make ends meet — often blurring lines between necessity and illegality.

For Teneyuque, prosecutors say she monetized her home baking skills to provide extra income, but federal law treats that as trafficking. Her supporters argue this punishes ambition. “She didn’t scam anyone — she worked, she baked, she sold,” wrote one post with over 10K likes. “The system wants poor people dependent, not successful.”

This theme echoes a broader critique of welfare policy: SNAP’s restrictions discourage recipients from building small businesses or pursuing financial independence. Once recipients attempt self-sufficiency, they risk violating the very programs meant to help them.

Comparisons to Other Welfare Scandals

The outrage deepened after users began comparing Teneyuque’s charge with high-profile welfare misuses.

• Brett Favre, accused of misdirecting $1.1 million in Mississippi welfare funds, has faced no prison time.
• A USDA employee fraud ring busted earlier this year involved $66 million in fake EBT approvals — still pending trial.
• A TikTok influencer was caught teaching followers to exploit food assistance programs for $35,000 in overpayments — she wasn’t charged with a felony.

By comparison, Teneyuque’s alleged crime involved less than $2,000 worth of baking ingredients. For many, that imbalance highlights who the system protects — and who it punishes.

As one user wrote: “If she was a CEO skimming millions from the government, she’d be on Fox News explaining how it’s a ‘clerical error.’”

What Happens Next

As of this afternoon, no trial date has been set. However, Teneyuque’s refusal to accept a plea deal suggests she intends to argue that her actions lacked criminal intent. Her defense may hinge on demonstrating that the baked goods were produced for personal use or small community sales. Not organized fraud.

Legal experts note that while her case may seem minor, food stamp law leaves little room for nuance. Unless the state reduces the charge or proves no intent to resell, the felony classification stands.

If convicted, Teneyuque faces both prison time and permanent disqualification from SNAP benefits. Her supporters are urging Michigan lawmakers to review the rigidity of these rules, calling it “a criminalization of poverty, not fraud.”

Social Media Reacts: “She Was Just Trying to Eat”

The comment sections under posts from @RaphouseTV, @YesMoreSalt, and @SayCheeseDGTL show overwhelming sympathy. Most replies describe her prosecution as excessive, classist, and hypocritical.

• “Ten years? But that rich guy that harmed a 12-year-old got six months.” — @HurtsonaPerc
• “Sounds like a genius entrepreneur to me. This legal system is a joke.” — @ace1yoda
• “So she flipped food stamps into a bakery — that’s innovation, not fraud.” — @yesmoresalt
• “This country punishes the broke for surviving.” — @imnormalguys

A small minority defended the government’s position, noting SNAP’s intent to feed families, not fund businesses. But that argument was largely drowned out by outrage. Many called it “the definition of selective justice,” contrasting Teneyuque’s treatment with corporate and political corruption that rarely meets a courtroom.

Deeper Questions About Race, Poverty, and Policy

Although prosecutors haven’t suggested racial bias in this case, patterns in SNAP enforcement show Black recipients are investigated more often. Studies from the USDA Office of Inspector General confirm disproportionate audits by race and income level.

In this context, Teneyuque’s case becomes more than an isolated charge — it’s a mirror of systemic inequities. Black women make up just 12% of SNAP participants but 32% of prosecutions for food stamp fraud nationally.

Her story, now amplified by social media, is reshaping public conversations about how America defines crime, wealth, and worth. As one viral tweet put it: “When poor women make money, it’s fraud. When rich men do, it’s capitalism.”