Apparently they jump in your boat.
Posted on 03/16/2018 5:40:03 PM PDT by TigerClaws
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Sheriff Mike Williams announced Tuesday the results of a multi-agency, undercover investigation into the exchange of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for cash and, in at least one case, cocaine.
From 2012 to 2017, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office detectives, working with federal and state agencies, documented more than 22,000 fraudulent transactions involving $3.7 million in taxpayer money.
"These people are selling or stealing money from hardworking taxpayers right here in our community, and they are abusing a program that is meant to help people," Williams said.
WATCH: More than a dozen arrested in Operation Half-Back
Williams said that during Operation Half-Back, undercover officers personally observed 115 individuals in 390 fraudulent transactions from February to July 2017.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said her office will be prosecuting those felony cases.
"These schemes are very active in our state, and I look forward to my office holding these defendants accountable," Bondi said in a statement, applauding law enforcement for their efforts. "It is because of their diligence and hard work that this scheme was put to an end."
Investigators said those with SNAP/EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards would give their PIN number to the buyer, and that money would then be deposited into their accounts.
Williams said, in most cases, the food-stamp recipient received 50 cents per $1 of SNAP benefit used. Each transaction was recorded.
The operation originally focused on operators of brick-and-mortar stores, but investigators learned that many of the perpetrators became mobile business -- such as meat, seafood and produce vendors -- so they could apply to the U.S Department of Agriculture to accept SNAP benefits. Williams said they sold very little merchandise, as most of their volume was exchanging SNAP benefits for cash.
Operation-Half-Back-poster
Those accused include 21 people considered recruiters or intermediaries charged with organized schemes to defraud and public assistance fraud.
There were also 177 people accused of selling their benefits who face charges of public assistance fraud -- most of those felonies because the transaction involved more than $200. The Sheriff's Office said 161 warrants are still waiting to be issued.
"Food stamp trafficking steals from Florida's hardworking taxpayers," Bondi said in a statement. "The SNAP/EBT program is designed to provide services to the most vulnerable among us and for anyone to take advantage of this system is shameful."
READ: Office of Public Benefits Integrity's response to SNAP fraud investigation
The Office of Public Benefits Integrity told News4Jax that if the people arrested are found guilty of fraud, they'll be required to pay that money back.
“It’s very frustrating because the people who actually have a need for the EBT cards are getting shorted," said taxpayer Hugh Hyatt.
Jasmine Coleman, who recently applied for SNAP benefits, said it's upsetting knowing people are abusing the program that's meant to help families like hers.
"To support my daughters and me, I'm a server and I don't make that much and food is starting to get very expensive," she said. "It's making it harder for us to receive benefits and for us to actually get support and use it the right way."
Bondi said the crimes are unacceptable.
"We will not tolerate these disgraceful acts, and we will continue to protect our Florida taxpayers and the countless legitimate recipients of these benefits," Bondi said.
Williams singled out four businesses he said were the biggest offenders found during the fraud investigation.
I’ll bet half the money is defrauded from the program. Even with these arrests, it’s probably less than 0.01% of the total defrauded.
Two companies (Conduent and Fidelity Information Services) hold 50 of 52 SNAP/EBT contracts. Puerto Rico and Montana have others. Imagine if those two were somehow . . . compromised.
Looking at those mug shots, I’d say the common thread is drugs, mostly meth.
I heard it was because the Carp kept retaining ponds free of weeds. Who knows? I do know that they escaped from the ponds due to the historic 1993 Mississippi River floods.
EBT cards to they are being used to buy Street Illegal drugs.
There are many items that could be
cycled into the food stamp program.
Just about all packaged items on store
shelves have a shelf life printed on
the package (best if used by date).
USDA does not allow for sale to the
public, any food item past that date,
even though it may be fine for
consumption, and is generally tossed
out.
A friend worked at a major chain
grocery store, and was always bringing
home expired items. Lots of crackers,
cookies, potato chips, bread, cereal,
etc.
I might add...those Asian Carp ARE
good eating, they just need to be
prepared correctly, and one has to
more or less get over their being
branded as a trash fish.
I was incorrect on my USDA statements.
The only item that is not allowed to
be sold past it’s expiration date is
baby formula.
(This in before the flames)
My apologies.
Wouldn’t doubt it. If there were a way, they’d come up with it.
Looks like Democrats at a public school at the sight of a Bible.
Good one Doughty, been to a few of those meetings.
“:^)
“Food boxes with canned asian carp would stop this fraud.”
2 MREs per family member per day. Period.
L
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