14 Baltimore-area retailers indicted in alleged $16 million food stamp fraud

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14 Baltimore-area retailers indicted in alleged $16 million food stamp fraud


Fourteen Baltimore-area retailers from Glen Burnie to Park Heights have been charged with defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture of more than $16 million from in a practice known as "food stamp trafficking," federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides low-income individuals with debit cards that can be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, and other grocery staples. Prosecutors allege that the shop owners would pay customers cash, instead of food, for their SNAP benefits.

A customer might receive $50, while the USDA is charged $100, leaving the shop owner with $50 profit.
 
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