Authorities say they’ve busted a major fraud ring involving EBT, and we’re not talking pocket change. The Manhattan DA says it involved millions of dollars. FOX 5 NY’s Linda Schmidt has the details.
A 29-year-old man has been indicted in the deadly stabbing of a person at a Washington Heights men’s homeless shelter in September, according to the Manhattan District Attorney.
A group of defendants accused of operating what prosecutors described as a “fraud factory” stole more than $7 million in SNAP benefits by repeatedly using stolen EBT card information, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Eight people were charged for their alleged involvement in a fraud scheme that stole $7 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“SNAP and EBT fraud harms New Yorkers in need of assistance and the New Yorkers whose tax dollars fund these essential programs,” said District Attorney Bragg. “As alleged, this conspiracy created fraudulent merchant processing accounts for fraudulent delis and paid themselves by repeatedly swiping stolen EBT cards at point-of-sale systems associated with those accounts. The defendants allegedly tracked the timing of benefit funds and drained accounts before the legitimate SNAP recipient could buy food and other necessities, eventually stealing more than $7 million. I thank our law enforcement partners at DOI for their work in putting a stop to this fraud.”
