Small stores, massive fraud: Haitian duo charged in $7 million SNAP scheme

• Two Boston bodega owners are charged with orchestrating a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud the SNAP (food stamp) program, revealing systemic vulnerabilities in benefit oversight.
• The defendants allegedly exchanged SNAP benefits for cash and prohibited items like liquor, laundered money and used their small stores to process benefits at volumes typical of large grocery chains.
• This case follows similar large-scale fraud investigations, notably a $250 million scheme in Minnesota, indicating a widespread pattern of exploitation within public assistance programs.
• The fraud drains taxpayer funds meant to fight food insecurity and risks leading to increased scrutiny and tighter access for legitimate beneficiaries who rely on the program.
• Prosecutors highlight that a lack of data sharing between state and federal agencies hampers oversight, pointing to a need for deeper reforms and improved cooperation to protect public funds.

Federal prosecutors have peeled back the facade of two unassuming bodegas in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood, revealing what they describe as a brazen, multi-million dollar fraud operation targeting the nation’s food stamp program.

The case, unsealed this week, charges two Haitian immigrants and casts a harsh light on systemic vulnerabilities in the oversight of critical welfare benefits, raising urgent questions about accountability and the scale of such exploitation nationwide. The Department of Justice (DOJ) detailed charges against Antonio Bonheur, 74, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Haiti, and Saul Alisme, 21, a lawful permanent resident.

The two are accused of transforming their small convenience stores into engines of fraud, systematically bilking the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for years. As noted by BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, SNAP benefits are government-provided funds that can only be used to purchase eligible food items and seeds or plants for growing food, with strict prohibitions on non-food products, alcohol, tobacco and supplements.

The scale of the alleged operation defies the stores’ modest appearances. Court documents paint a picture of establishments with observably low inventory and minimal legitimate customer traffic. Yet, prosecutors allege, one of the bodegas redeemed upwards of $500,000 in SNAP benefits in a single month, a volume they note would be expected for a major retail grocery chain, not a small independent corner store.

The mechanics of the scheme were multifaceted. According to the DOJ indictment, undercover federal agents witnessed the stores engaging in direct cash exchanges for SNAP benefits, a blatant violation of program rules intended solely for the purchase of eligible food items. The establishments also allegedly traded benefits for explicitly ineligible products like liquor and even sold international humanitarian aid food packages. To conceal the illicit profits, the defendants are accused of laundering money through secondary bank accounts.

Food stamps and fraudulent schemes

In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley issued a stark warning about the pervasiveness of such crimes. “Fraud is not isolated, but widespread,” Foley stated. She slammed officials in Massachusetts and other states, suggesting that a refusal to share comprehensive SNAP data with the federal government actively hampers oversight and enables such schemes to persist.

The Massachusetts case arrives amid a national backdrop of similar large-scale investigations, suggesting a troubling pattern of exploitation within public assistance systems. It follows closely on the heels of a massive food aid scam scandal in Minnesota, where federal criminal charges were filed against 47 defendants involved in a scheme that allegedly defrauded taxpayers of about $250 million. That case, centered within the Somali immigrant community, has been accompanied by allegations that state officials were aware of red flags years before taking decisive action.

The parallel scandals, separated by geography and community but united in method, underscore a dual crisis: criminal enterprises aggressively targeting public assistance programs and apparent systemic failures in prevention and early detection. The consequences are twofold: taxpayers ultimately bear the financial burden of these stolen millions, while legitimate recipients of aid face the potential for increased scrutiny and tightened access to the essential benefits they rely on.

The scheme also exposes how seemingly small local businesses can be used to siphon vast sums from federal programs. The alleged $7 million fraud represents a significant drain on resources meant to alleviate food insecurity, diverting funds from those in genuine need.

As the legal process moves forward for Bonheur and Alisme, the case serves as a potent reminder of the constant tension between providing a vital social safety net and implementing the rigorous oversight necessary to protect it from corruption. The DOJ’s action signals a continued federal focus on prosecuting such fraud. However, the recurring nature of these schemes, from Boston to Minneapolis, points to a need for deeper, systemic reforms and improved inter-agency cooperation to safeguard public funds and maintain the integrity of programs upon which millions of vulnerable Americans depend.

Watch this video about SNAP fraud.

This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com 1

TheNationalPulse.com 2

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com