Posted on 03/20/2015 4:35:36 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Taxpayers fund food benefits for the poorest families among us.
Tonight, CBS12 investigates why those food stamp cards are becoming a common currency for purchasing illegal drug deals.
The Indian River County Sheriff's Office says career criminal Anthony Wheeler, 44, is not the first accused drug dealer detectives found taking payment for drugs with taxpayer-funded electronic benefit cards.
But the Sheriff says the abuse of the benefit cards seems to be getting worse, and the cards are too easily transferable from person to person.
"Primarily you are looking at taxpayers’ dollars that provide EBT cards, that are ultimately buying drugs," said Sheriff Deryl Loar, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
"It appears there's a discounted transaction when you trade in your EBT card for some type of illegal drugs."
The Sheriff said dealers give buyers a discount when using EBT cards, since they are better than cash.
At this latest bust at Wheeler’s home Detectives confiscated 18 EBT cards issued in various names, in his possession.
On Thursday afternoon, detectives with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office Multi-Agency Criminal Enforcement (M.A.C.E.) Unit assisted by the Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Team concluded an extensive narcotics investigation by executing a search warrant at a home in the 8400 block of 63rd Avenue.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, as the S.W.A.T. Team entered the premises, Wheeler was observed with a Nestle Quick bottle in his hand.
Detectives determined that the bottled contained 97 grams of heroin and 13 grams of powder cocaine in a false bottom.
The search also yielded .6 grams of crack cocaine, 18 grams of marijuana, $1,308.00 of drug money, $250.00 of unused gift cards, 18 Electronic Benefit Transfer (E.B.T.) cards commonly known as food stamp cards issued in various names, two flintlock firearms, three realistic looking air soft handguns, and one realistic looking air soft rifle.
The home also included an extensive surveillance system and three radio communication devices believed to be used during drug sales.
Now Each and every one of these EBT cards confiscated will be turned over to the state for further investigation.
Sheriff Deryl Loar says he is working closely with state officials to solve the taxpayer-funded benefit card's abuse.
“Something I’m not concerned about.”
Maybe not at the moment. But one day you will be.
L
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