Columbia man owes more than $1 million to government for food stamp fraud

The State ^ | 3/15/2018 | Noah Feit

[Gamecock]

COLUMBIA, SC

A Columbia man was sentenced to prison and must pay more than $1,000,000 in restitution for his role in the theft of food stamp money.

Christopher O’Berry, 43, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for theft of government money, according to U.S. Attorney Beth Drake. O’Berry was also ordered to pay $1,039,981.75 in restitution to the United States.

O’Berry operated Cynthia’s Soul Food Deli (formerly Food World), which was located near the intersection of St. Andrews Road and Broad River Road.

It served food, but was also registered to receive SNAP benefits as payment for food items. SNAP is commonly known as the food stamp program, assists low-income families and individuals purchase food.

Drake's office said this arrangement posed two issues. First, SNAP does not pay for prepared food. Second, the restaurant did not stock sufficient food to justify the purchases recorded under SNAP.

O’Berry allowed beneficiaries to make small purchases through SNAP but processed them as much larger amounts, according to Drake's office. He would then pay some cash to the beneficiary and keep some for himself.

The investigation traced proceeds of the theft to a Woodforest National Bank account controlled by O’Berry, where he deposited $956,006.90 between May 2011 and December 2014, Drake's office said. He then withdrew $158,187 in cash and transferred $714,032 to his own accounts. The rest was used to make minimal purchases for the store.

“SNAP is an important source of critical funding to South Carolinians most in need, including the elderly and young families," Drake said in a news release. "When the unscrupulous or dishonest defraud the program — and that includes businesses and recipients of SNAP benefits — they are both stealing from the tax payers and eroding a program that does a lot of good."

[ProtectOurFreedom]

When will the Obungholes and Clintons be forced to pay restitution for what they stole?

The Clintons got hundreds of millions in cash. The Obungholes stole the nation’s soul - how do you put a price on that?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Having one’s soul purloined (at least for a period) has one great advantage. It makes it possible to understand where our spiritual bread is buttered.

[1FreeAmerican]

It’s the same reason the Mafia exists.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Which is a worldly protection scheme... but by all means do elucidate. If you can, and that’s not just a smart but inaccurate remark.

[MSF BU]

Time to start delivering food boxes.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

I had an employee who was making $15/hr plus lots and lots of overtime for a semi-skilled job. I stopped at 7-11 with him one day at lunch. I saw him pay for his items with an EBT card. I was shocked.

He didn't live in poverty or want. In fact he was overweight. I questioned him about it and he said the government said it was OK. That was a real eye-opener for me. I'm still shocked all these years later.

Yes, he was Amish.
 

[publius911]

This is one of the most common crimes in America and it costs the taxpayers billions of dollars every year.

That just the fraudulent EBT users.
what is the cost of all the federal employees necessary to administer the EBT program?

"Only 5.1% additional

Not sure if that includes Fed employment benefits and retirement contributions.

[sargon]

There's so much fraud committed through the federal food stamp program, it's absolutely mind-boggling. The numbers have to be astronomical.

Every FReeper here who has had any experience in the real world knows exactly how food stamp fraud works—even though not a single FReeper or anyone they've ever known has ever actually engaged in it (cough, cough bullsh-t) of course.

For those of you who who are shocked—shocked, I tell you—that such a thing could ever happen in America (looks both ways and sidles up close to whisper in your ear) here's how it works: in every big city, small town, and boondock in America—including even your reputable, upstanding locality—there are always several businesses and shopkeepers who will give you 50 cents on the dollar, in cash, for the balance on your food stamp card.

But whatever you do, for God's sake, don't tell anyone, because it's a big secret—mum's the word (wink, wink). The rube American taxpayers who actually (LOL) work for a living, and who thus don't have a food stamp card because they underwrite the whole racket—have no idea that it's happening! What a bunch of suckers, eh? How gullible can you get?

This insidious criminal scheme is doubtless the best kept secret in the country, because if word ever out that ubiquitous food stamp fraud happens as a matter of routine—occurring on every square mile of American soil—I'm absolutely certain that the two integrity-permeated faces of the Uniparty Swamp would put a swift and sure end to such shenanigans, that I can tell you!

So—as I said above—I implore everyone to ensure that nobody ever finds out about this, because mass chaos would ensue if such heinous crimes were ever exposed to the blinding light of American Justice, as administered via our representative in Congress&mdahs;who would initiate hearings immediately, and get to the bottom of this matter, that's for sure...

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks so much for your support to this point... I personally apprecaite it...
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...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

Just $347.00 dollars to 91.00%

[CurlyDave]

Before we all get worked up into a lather about food stamps, I have as friend and former employee who has been disabled for the past 5 years. Broke his leg very seriously, and it never healed properly. There is still a hole in his shin where the bone is exposed in an area the size of a silver dollar.

Not an on the job accident, he was bicycling and had a bad accident.

Until this February, his only income was $192 per month in food stamps. This is nowhere near the life of luxury we are talking about on this thread.

In February he finally got disability which added $750 per month to his income.

Fraud, waste, hiding income (the big one) all these things happen, and should be prosecuted. But who among us would like to have to live on $192/month? Or even $942 per month.

[buckalfa]

Possibly part of Irish Gypsy clan. They are rampant along I-20 between Columbia and Augusta.

[Brown Deer]

back in the ‘70s, when they still had the stamp/coupons, it was a very busy day at the liquor stores on the day those food stamps were delivered.

[RipSawyer]

Surely you lie, no such nefarious activity could possibly be going on in this country. I have never heard of anything such thing going on, oh wait, there was this one case.

Actually I am told that in at least one area nearby people have been known to go door to door like an old time vacuum cleaner salesman to sell food stamp benefits for half price.

[edzo4]

So if fraud and waste was eliminated couldn’t we afford to offer more help to people like your friend while still costing the taxpayer much less?

[Yorlik803]

Heres one that will make your blood boil! One sunday morning I went to the food store to pick up some stuff. While waiting in line I saw a Indian guy with a cart filled with Pop. Coke a cola, Pepsi, Mt Dew. It was over flowing with the stuff and not one food item. And he pays with a EBT card. This crook was either buying his inventory for his store or has a large family with a nasty Caffine addiction. I tried to follow him to take pictures to give to the state but got held up in line. And that’s what wrong with this EBT system.

[NorthMountain]

When we get the government, with all its penchant for fraud, waste, abuse, incompetence, and mismanagement, OUT of the the business of providing assistance to the disabled and to the indigent, we’ll be able to do much better for your friend through our voluntary, PRIVATE associations.

[Wingy]

Curly, your friend is not who people are ticked off about. Your buddy’s type of problem is what the program was designed for. No, what folks are all steamed up about is the mountain of folks that use it (the SNAP program) as a supplement to their hidden income. This turns a marginal income, legal or not, into a nice monthly ride. The problem is not with the cheaters, but with the salesman at the welfare office that approves the cheater with a wink and a nod for full benefits. That keeps HIM working and it costs him not one thin dime.