When President Barack Obama loosened requirements around the use of food stamps at flea markets, the idea was to give more needy people access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
But like so many of Obama’s policy’s before it, the initiative was so short-sighted it let thieves steal millions.
At the Opa-Locka and Hialeah food market outside Miami alone, taxpayers shelled out over $13 million to the thieves, according to Judicial Watch. The record-setting fraud ring that was busted last week.
Twenty-two crooked flea market vendors and greedy welfare queens were using government assistance like their personal ATM.
“The feds say the business owners and their employees let food-stamp recipients use their welfare benefit to get cash in exchange for a cut of the money. They swiped the recipient’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) card (the government created the name to avoid stigma) for an inflated amount, doled out cash and kept a percentage,” according to Judicial Watch.
According USDA agent Karen Citizen-Wilcox, it’s happening all over the country. “Thousands of food-stamp recipients are believed to have exchanged their benefit for cash in this flea market scheme that ‘defrauded the American taxpayer’ and ‘denied healthy foods to needy children and their families,'” Citizen-Wilcox told Judicial Watch.
The report comes at a poor time for Obama. The Associated Press reported Monday that Republicans controlling the House are proposing $23 billion worth of food stamp cuts over the coming decade, part of a $170 billion spending cut package aimed at getting tea party lawmakers to vote for a broader 10-year budget plan.
The food stamp cuts would be to benefits for able-bodied recipients without children and those who receive a greater benefit because they also qualify for home-heating subsidies. They are a small part of the 10-year, approximately $720 billion budget for the program.
In recent years here in Massachusetts there have been numerous food stamp fraud cases. Most were non-citizens at small corner markets. The food stamp program was designed to help AMERICANS who lost their jobs, sick, elderly or handicapped. A good thing. Now we have folks coming from foreign lands receiving them. We have able bodied folks making the career choice to go on EBT, food stamps, sec. 8 housing etc.
Unless your are sick,elderly or handicapped all we need to give you is a public service job like in CC camp times.
I saw this coming the moment I saw you are able to buy Easter baskets for your children because they have candy in them! I suggest you take your kids to church and show them the real reason of Easter, and that there is no Easter bunny, A funny for you, I took my 6 yr old to HEB where there was an “Easter Bunny,” she immediately shouted out the obvious: ” Mom, that isn’t any bunny..there is a man inside there..”.No Sxxt! They can also buy valentine boxes with candy in it, as well as Xmas candy boxes or those that have cheese and crackers for a present. When the Food Stamps began you could buy dog and cat food, until they “said” that they could no longer take stamps for those items because people were eating them, wrong, people were feeding their pets so why lie?
Well said.
Our benefits should be only for citizens. When fraud occurs they should be cut off and not allowed back on any benefit. Problem solved.
SHORT & 2 THE POINT!
Totally agree, it is de meaning enough you just have to get in the line first, then this crap!
Poo!!!
Our government can’t run a lemonade stand. When the poop hits the fan the people that really need help are the ones that are going to suffer the most. I’m quitting, no more. Anytime I can pay cash I do. If my barber or lawn service wants to hide it MORE POWER TO THEM. We need a tax revolt & if everyone does a little it can have a huge impact.
If you want this to change write our local congress people and keep it up daily. I am doing that.
My congressman want to stop the drugs coming into our state. I told me to back Trump and help him build the wall and the drugs will dry up
Most of the drugs aren’t coming from individual hopping the fence and bringing them in. Most of the drugs are coming into the US through the maze of tunnels they’re building.
You are right. Some kidnapped people are used as mules to get drugs across the borders. B.P and Dep. Find people dead in desert. Some shot or left with no food or water. The drug lords using light one man planes. Drones to get drugs across the borders. Colexico, CA has been taken over by drug gangs.
New gun laws in CA should bring more votes to Trump. American people fed up with Obama’s policies.
Soo much abuse to we the taxpayers …. cut the benefits and watch how many would people will leave willingly …. all these handouts are designed to have and keep the commi left in power …. lived in Miami years back when food stamps were still the paper bills and the little markets there were paying these bums selling theirs .50 on the dollar , they say now you can find them for sale even on craigslist …. crazy !!
Having lived in close community with a fairly large number of people on various welfare programs for several years I can attest to the fact that this type of fraud is committed daily. Having also worked for one of the largest retail grocery chains for a goodly number of years, since the inception of Food Stamps back in the 1970’s I can attest to the fact that Food Stamp fraud was committed daily even when the paper coupon books were issued. Anyone who actually believes that human beings are innately honest are Naive! Anyone who thinks that Food Stamp recipients use those Food Stamps to buy food exclusively is Naive. Anyone who thinks allowing a Food Stamp recipient to use their Food Stamp Card in an ATM for cash to be used for purchasing fresh produce, thinking they will do just that, is the most Naive of all.
I have watched as relatives exchanged Food Stamps for lesser amounts of cash in the grocery store, in a , we all can share, type of scheme, defrauding the government. However: I did see one person caught and put on a six month probation for that. I have personally seen Food Stamps exchanged for cash to buy liquor, tobacco products, and prescription medications. Reported? Yes, I’ve seen those things reported many times. Was anything done to stop the fraud? No, nothing was done. Reason: departments were just too short handed to enforce the laws. Did doctors stop prescribing narcotic pain relievers to abusers that sold their pill’s? No. The rackets still proliferate and the politicians still support those who continue to fraud the government and drain the taxpayer.
Ma’m, I hear what you’re saying and I agree with you, but three years ago my husband lost his job at carrier and along with it all our benefits. Then I got seriously ill with my heart and had to quit teaching. We had two teenagers at home and we had to accept help. It was not our choice but necessary. Both girls went on Medicaid and we qualified for food stamps. When our oldest left home after school we let them know and our benefits were lowered. Our youngest is still using Medicaid and now I have had to go on SS and Medicare yes I’m 65+ and Medicare informed that we are below the poverty line and now I’m on Medicaid. Not my choice, not my plans for my life, but it is what it is. Yes
My husband is working 22 hours for roughly $9.00 an hour and he works very hard doing odd jobs to help out with bills. So in closing I just wanted to let you know not every one is scamming the system… In fact I actually had someone follow me out of Walmart and ask me to buy him $20 in groceries and he would give me the cash…I said NO THAT’S ILLEGAL!!! And went back into Walmart to report him.
Good for you Ms.Groves. I absolutely admire for what you have done. God bless you and your family.
Lets get rid of the food stamps and set up warehouses where only the legal ones can receive their food and only the legal food. No alcohol, cigarettes, candy, cookies, etc. If they want that they have to get a job and pay taxes like the rest of us. One job they can get would to be to work in those warehouses.
I forgot to mention that they would be rotated from one warehouse to another every week outside of their neighborhoods so they can not get friendly and make deals. Also put outlooks in the lines and in the warehouses to keep an eye on the others.
it’s called the church!!!!!
Last while standing in line at the grocery store there were 2 women in front of me that must had weighed 800lbs between them i did not get mad at them for using food vouchers and food stamps to pay their bill but ipon leaving what really gripped me was seeing them get in a $40,000 something 2016 suv knowing it was paid for out of my tax dollars i have worked 50 plus years and i drive a 1985 with 150,000 miles on it and i work building Boeing 777″s been doing that for 37 years
what about those of us who have no TRANSPORTATION to get to those food warehouses that you speak of !!! I am 69 and the brakes went out on my car almost TWO YEARS AGO … after being self-sufficient for 50 YEARS, I now have to depend on my cousin or a friend who lives 40 miles away from me to take me to the grocery to spend my $90 a MONTH food stamps !!! WHAT if they can’t get here when your imaginary food warehouse isn’t open ???? what do I do then, Sherlock !!!!!! as it is, I can only get to the store every two to three weeks, because of THEIR timetables !!!!!! so don’t sit up there on your high horse and dictate to ME !!!!!
A grocery store employee recently told me of an interesting situation which took place several decades ago. When a 2016 Presidential Candidate first moved to this state and local community, the employees of that store noted that this person frequently came into the store near the end of the day, when business was slower. Spending an inordinate amount of time searching the aisles, and checking food prices, the shopper would finally come to the check-out. It was noticed by the checkout personnel, that frequently most of shopper’s grocery charges totaled to a few cents over an even dollar. The employees speculated that this was planned, in order to receive close to $1.00 in change when paying with food stamps. After several grocery purchases, the change would amass to allow purchases of non-approved food stamp purchases. Now, after a successful political career, in Local, State and Federal offices, this as accumulated a sizeable nest egg and no longer plays the food stamp game.
In Deep South Texas, food stamps fraud is like drinking water. Almost everyone can get something. Abuse is very prevalent!! I’ve been offered stamps for food, food for $$, numerous times over the years. Just too easily mismanagement!! ????
You are right. The far left in this country is nothing but a very corrupt Party called the Democrat Party. They like all these liberal policies because it buys them votes. We need another case of welfare reform and this time put some teeth in it; if anyone is caught cheating the system, they go to prison for at least 10 years.
There are hundreds of million dollars Food Stamps fraud in Minneapolis, MN also. Somalia Muslims have been doing it for years as as fast as they rapidly grow in population, they also commit fraud on the IRS refunds in billions of dollars annually. Somalia Muslims now rapidly expands and they now follow their own Sharia Law.
These are happening all over the country mostly from illegal aliens, and suckling democrats.
God Connie we used to live in Columbia Heights MN we moved to a house in Brooklyn Center MN, our Daughter attended school there and Graduated from Brooklyn Center High school in 2006. Our goal was for her to get a good education and work. She is a Administration Advisor for Doctors in Edina MN doing quite well. We sold our house in 2005 and moved to a small town in Southern Minnesota where my mother lived and was raised due to all the Muslims moving into our neighborhood. I don’t doubt there is fraud going on in Minneapolis nothing shocks me with that place. I wouldn’t live in the city if someone paid me to.
Oh yeah, Southern Minnesota. Nice and quaint and Spanish speaking.
This ain’t only illegals this is an everyone problem.
Some need the assistance, but when Obummer puts his edicts down as King Obummer, The fraud operators say another thank you and steal from those of need. Our helping the needey means help, not continued support for generations. Wake up America.
The system is broken & needs to be revamped. I was a single mom of three working 2-3 jobs to pay bills, mortgage,utilities etc. Not in public housing I worked & paid for all of that & more. I also received assistance to assist with food & medical and glad it was available. But I have seen abuses of the system also by others. I don’t think it’s right that the systems set up so poorly that this can be happening. Furthermore I’m shocked to see the AMT of money given for food purchase, of course I got docked for any employed income on amount of stamps/card for food but I never saw the kind of amounts available for grocery purchase that are being handed out now. One person with 3 or 4 kids was receiving $800 in food a month, half that AMT if used properly would be adequate for a family of 4.
I was feeding 3 on $150. a month back then, (20 yrs ago) yes cost of living is a bit more but let’s get real! People given more than actually needed, some selling/trading difference for cash & other. While AMT given to a single person in crisis is still only $203.00 & prob $130. Food stamps/$80.00 cash for paper products/shampoo etc. That is what ATM is dispensing. ATM cannot be accessed for food side of card, nor can cash b given at register from it.
Many abuses within the system (overpays) as well as outside it. The whole system needs a do-over.
The system is not broken we are the one that are broken, Because we are greedy.
I am retired and when I go shopping at the food and clothing stores i see people in their on food stamps dressed twice as nice as i am and with nice jewelry. LETS STOP THIS NOW!!!!!!!!!
The system is broken & needs to be revamped. I was a single mom of three working 2-3 jobs to pay bills, mortgage,utilities etc. Not in public housing I worked & paid for all of that & more. I also received assistance to assist with food & medical and glad it was available. But I have seen abuses of the system also by others. I don’t think it’s right that the systems set up so poorly that this can be happening. Furthermore I’m shocked to see the AMT of money given for food purchase, of course I got docked for any employed income on amount of stamps/card for food but I never saw the kind of amounts available for grocery purchase that are being handed out now. One person with 3 or 4 kids was receiving $800 in food a month, half that AMT if used properly would be adequate for a family of 4.
I was feeding 3 on $150. a month back then, (20 yrs ago) yes cost of living is a bit more but let’s get real! People given more than actually needed, some selling/trading difference for cash & other. While AMT given to a single person in crisis is still only $203.00 & prob $130. Food stamps/$80.00 cash for paper products/shampoo etc. That is what ATM is dispensing. ATM cannot be accessed for food side of card, nor can cash b given at register from it.
Many abuses within the system (overpays) as well as outside it. The whole system needs a do-over.
Mi
Yes..I agree. This whole entitlement system was designed to help WE AMERICANS, the ones in true need. It is a disgrace that WE AMERICANS get turned down when we need assistance but then an ILLEGAL, someone who has no rights to anything including our entitlement system, gets assistance!!! There is something really wrong with that when OUR AMERICAN children are in need and starving here and ILLEGALS ARE HERE LIVING FAT OFF OUR SYSTEM!!!
Illegals are not eligible for Food Stamps.
What universe do you inhabit.
May not be eligible.. But I have seen them using EBT cards
No work. No eat. If they are illegal aliens, then they don’t qualify. Simple.
Don’t blame illegals they din’t start the fire it was already started before they got here.
My son is 50 years old and needs back and hand surgery and is in pain 24/7 he can’t work because of the pain but do you think he can get help from the welfare dept, NO They told him to come back after the surgery with a letter showing proof of the surgery
this system is so screwed up that it isn’t funny.
I have a 70 year old friend who’s social security is $611 per month and she can’t get food stamps so after paying her rent and other bills, she has $67 left over to buy food for the month, She paid taxes for decades and can’t get them but yet illegal aliens get all sorts of benefits. How is this fair? It isn’t!!!
I know someone who uses her food stamps at these stores that are a bunch of fraud for all kind of things
Obama knows what he’s doing when he sets up these fraud-prone programs. He is endearing more and more idiots to the Democrat party.
Plain and simple.
Where’s Paul Ryan or Mitch McConnell? Republicans have the biggest majority since the early 1920’s in Congress. Yet these issues continue.
That’s it in a nutshell !!!
Obama din’t start the fire it was already started by who ever started this food program help.
I would love too leave a comment but the english would not be politicly correct , or hurt some feelings .I like Trump!!!!
IT’S TRUMP TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR ME !!!!!!!!!
Obama knows exactly what he’s doing when his crooked administration sets up these fraud-prone programs.
He is continuing his methodical plan to endear more and more to the Democrat party.
Very neat trick and out POS POTUS thinks no one else can figure it out.
What a arrogate bastard and waste of tax payers money, no one is going to go see it.
I live in a neighborhood where I’m probably the only person who works. Within a half an hour and in two different stores, I saw fraud. At the “corner store” I saw a 12-year-old spend $20 on cookies, ice cream and candy with an EBT card. INFURIATING! Since when can a 12-year-old use an EBT card? That’s making a contract. Minors cannot contract. Then I go to the grocery store and see an able-bodied 20-year-old minority male buy frozen pizzas, junk food, etc., and when he couldn’t find the EBT card, he gets on his fancy phone (holding the line up, mind you) and says, Dude, where da card? Meanwhile, I saw cash and a debit card in his wallet!!!! If my pay is late, I go hungry when I’m the one paying for the EBT with my outrageous taxes because I’m in business for myself. I’m so SICK of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What do they expect? The majority of them are too lazy to go to work anyway. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much fraud and abuse in this as well as all the other welfare programs. Make them show up for work, pick up trash along the roadways, maintenance work for the elderly, something, anything! If you made them show up for work most of this would go away. Put food at centralized warehouse stocked with the essential staples for the truly needed.
This is exactly why Obama was put in office (not elected because that was a scam as well) for handouts. What an idiot
How about the people that divorce and still
Live together in order to collect more welfare dollars???? The one with the least income claims the kids. Also they borrow each other’s kids and go to welfare office in order to make more. Also I know of one family in el
Paso that the man got busted for being illegal and sent back toMexico. Wife and 5 kids after some weeks reported him missing. She got $$$$ food stamps and all the programs
lol and behold she received a death certificate in mail from Mexico. Said he had died!!! BUT in fact he bribed mortuary to issue it And guess what?? She got full SS PAYMENTS FOR HER AND 5 kids!!!
Than he returns to USA under new name and moves back in
AFTER ALL ???? this is the FREE UNITEDSTATES OF AMERICA !!!
TRUMP Or we are done for
This “government” has let this fraud go on for years and, in fact, encouraged it by loosening the “rules” of the program. Years ago in Alaska I remember being in line at the grocery store behind a person using the real food stamps, and having the cashier tell the customer certain products in their cart would not qualify. That was how it used to be and apparently there must have been a way for the government to verify the stamps were used correctly before they reimbursed the grocery store (don’t know for sure). There may have been corruption even at that time, but it was not apparent to the casual observer. Now we have a dictator who is constantly trying to increase his voting base, by giveaways and ignoring the waste, fraud and abuse which surrounds him and his so-called “administration”. We are counting the days until November and praying for the American people/voters to elect the person who will take this country back.
I had an employee who lived in the “hood” most of her life but broke out after we hired her and she went to school. She told me things exactly like above and says it happens everywhere. A huge number use their “Lone Star Card” at grocery stores and convenience stores for cash for a percentage charge. It has to end now! If Congress would pass a law making it a specific fraud with a severe jail penalty and assign an agency or private sector investigative branch to ferret it out and bring those to trial it would save BILLIONS!
Congress won’t pass ANY legislation, they just tie up the process!!
You keep blaming Obama, wake up and smell the coffee!!
No one wants to disparage those that have a real need for these assistance programs. But the fact remains that due to poor oversight and gross government mismanagement these programs are rife with abuse and fraud. The Democrats attempt to buy votes through these programs but the ones hurt the most are the ones who really need the help. A vote for Hillary would be a vote for more abuse and fraud.
I was standing in line to buy a ticket for the movies when a girl asked me if I would like to buy her food stamp card for $50.00. She said there was $100.00 still on it. I said no but maybe my friend would. He’s a policeman. She left in a big hurry.
I’m 67 and get $16.00 a month. I have only Soc Sec which leaves me with about $6.00 in my bank account each month.
I am 71 years old, and worked as a grocery manager with major chains as well as a few smaller stores, know from experience the abuse has been going on for a long time, political parties especially Democrats have knowingly promoted the fraud for votes. Until
we the conservative minded voters take action on a large scale, nothing will be done. When will there be sufficient amount of us to
decide it is time for a unified action to oust those responsibly. If not now ? When? If not You? Who? It is the time be counted !!!
Instead of food stamps issued to individuals, perhaps we should bring back food distribution to them. Have them show at distribution centers and get cheese, rice, milk, basic food stuffs. And all recipients MUST show valid ID as citizens of the US.
I agree with RJ!!
Bet that would cut costs by billions!!!!!!
Abuse of the system. Makes me sick!!
TRUMP !!! We NEED HIM to FIX THIS MESS!!!
This is another application of the rule which states:
Wherever government goes, its three siblings, waste, fraud and corruption will be arriving soon.
db
Conduct Independant audits and start Locking Fraud Lawbreakers Up!
In Memphis TN they have thousands of people getting their food from “MIFA” a food pantry???Why as I suspect these folks are getting money through the food stamp Snap program. No doubt that there IsFraud in Memphis!
exactly RJ, making them show up will eliminate a lot by itself. Their are people that seriously need the help like elderly people that cant get there. Take all the able bodied free loaders receiving welfare checks and make them show up for work to receive a paycheck, they can deliver to the elderly that cant get out.
No work, no pay, plain and simple. Just watch how much that reduces this fraud, half of them are not even real people. All it takes is a public official interested in doing the right thing and the courage to do it.
This fraud is being committed all over the place. Orange County NY Middletown area some quick stops or small stores are giving 10 bucks for the food stamp trade then they buy heroin. I know this is here-say but it’s probably true.
$17,600 approximately, per year, is allocated for Central American children classified as refugees who are sent to the United States.
What they need to do, is make people on welfare that aren’t senior citizens, disabled, or handicapped. Work for their benefits. This country has pollution, bullying in schools. Make people on welfare, clean it up, do back round checks on welfare recipients. Those with good back rounds can monitor schools. That way, they work for their benefits, they can do what they want with it. Make it a law, that you must graduate from school or have a G.E.D. to be able to apply for welfare. You don’t get something, for doing nothing. Look at all the fat obese people sitting ontheir butts doing nothing…
I am on disability, and can’t get food stamps, it is very unfair, by the time I pay for rent with utilities, and things I need , I do not have much left for groceries
When you go to the Super Markets you see them pushing a cart full of different packages of expensive meat next is the Young deadbeat big fat guy pushing the other cart ” the loss husband and daddy” completely full to the top of all the other basics. At the register they pull out the Snap card, the total amount from $ 300 t0 $400 and they don’t even flinch when they are told.You know that they have to have more than 2 kids for them to receive so much money in stamps.Most of them work during the day and the other partner during the night,cash payed.Muslims have more than 2 wife some up to 6 plus all the kids each woman has,and the this Goverment are giving them stamps for all,no restriction,C8, A check for each child and medicaid . All this people has never pay a cent in taxes or work in this Country.My Mom worked for 50 years,received less than 900 in Social Security and received $39.00 in Stamps,died poor after so many years paying taxes in here.Thank You Obama!. I am voting for Trump!!, hoping all this will put to an end soon. Send all this Illegals back to their Countries and send all these lazy fat illegasl back to work to support the kids they illegally have in this Country so that we the ones getting up to work has to take care of children that are not ours .
I heard from a friend that she knows someone on Medicaid who refuses to work because she collects more that way than if she found a job!!
I believe as DT Reality said above that if the able bodied were made to clean up the trash on highways or were put to work doing volunteer work of some kind in order to be eligible to collect it might make a difference. I know someone on welfare who has a cellphone for free from the government. Why do they we believe should be giving out free cell phones? Too many people know how to work the system!!! In response to Chris who commented above about the man on food stamps with the cell phone, we probably paid for that with our taxes.
This is a perfect example of how we can reduce the national budget if our leaders have the will. Unfortunately, even if Trump is elected, the same low-level bureaucrats will be running the state and national government offices. Every office and every budget in the country has to be audited. And this audit has to be done by honest people. This problem has been building since the 1960s, and it will be a monumental task to straighten out this mess.
We are a free hearted people that have let ourselves be abused by the greed that has spread over this land like a cancer. Old and disabled Americans are barely scrapping by while people that are here illegally are living better than the tax payers that are supporting them. This is hard to watch in food stores as people that don’t speak English have carts full of name brands as well as junk food while the elderly cant afford food to stay healthy at the time when they need it the worst. Sadly our government doesn’t care .
I am on social security, below poverty level, not able to get extra help because I live with family. My check barely covers expenses and my family has often helped me out if something unexpected happens, I have a doctors appointment, or have to go to the hospital ER. Many people I know don’t have family to help them in emergencies.
It’s been going on for too long. Why isn’t something being done? Our
Country is over our heads in debt, but there are those who would like
to see this country fall, and they are in power. Is Trump our only hope?
We have had nearly 8 years of Obama and its gotten much worse in the Black community while he has been President. His entire time in office with the help of his Muslem czars, his actions have just promoted loss of American ideals, values, and unity. The sooner he is gone, the better. Please vote and vote for Donald Trump and Republicans on the ballots all over the United States, for his fairwell party.
I am in my mid 70’s and have to work to feed my family, and I have been working since I was 14. We can not get any assistance because I work and we own a modest home which we have had to take the equity out of a number of times. I was told by Social Security that when we loose our home we may be able to get help. Yes, it really hurts when I go to the grocery store and see so many buying foods with Government cards that I can not afford. It would be nice to have a special package of good cookies I could share with my grandchildren when they come for a visit. Then to top it off, the very people getting assistance drive off in a brand new SUV that they lease because the government does not know they have it. What are we working fools doing wrong????