Mass Gov Maura Healy's former aide accused of SNAP fraud while on pre-trial release.

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Former governor’s aide LaMar Cook was arrested on Wednesday for alleged SNAP and wire fraud while on pre-trial release for an indictment on cocaine trafficking and firearm charges.

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Court filings in the federal criminal case state that Cook’s bank account held balances of approximately $13,000 as of January 2026 and over $8,800 in April 2026. Cook also allegedly received a $2,497.88 federal and state tax refund in May 2026 from his employment with the Governor’s Office for the 2025 calendar year.

Charging documents further reported that Cook’s mother won approximately $1 million in the Massachusetts State Lottery in early 2026. She allegedly made multiple Zelle payments to Cook after claiming her prize, totaling approximately $12,000 between May and June 2026.

On April 6, 2026, Cook allegedly applied for SNAP benefits and falsely claimed zero income, less than $100 in his bank account, and living in a two-person household consisting of himself and his minor child.

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The affidavit states that Cook maintained at least one bank account that held over $8,800 on the date of his SNAP application and received thousands of dollars in additional deposits, including payments from his mother. Cook also allegedly failed to disclose that his fiancée and her mother lived with him, and that his fiancée earned income exceeding $80,000 annually from Springfield Public Schools.

Cook was arrested on Wednesday on a criminal complaint, charging him with one count of SNAP fraud and wire fraud. He is expected to be in Boston Federal Court at 2 p.m.

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