Investgation Shows Abuse of the System

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Apr 19 2016 8:22 AM

The Chipley Police Department conducted investigations concerning the illegal use, sales and trading of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefit cards. The cards are issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) are to be used for public assistance to the family they are assigned to.

This program is publicly funded through tax payer dollars to assist those in need. In 2012, SNAP benefits were issued to 18% of Florida’s residents in excess of 3 million participants. Florida Statute 414.39(2), indicates that anyone who uses, transfers, acquires, traffics, alters, forges or possesses an electronic benefit card that is not theirs commits a crime, which can vary from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Chief Crews stated, “Through the course of the Chipley Police Department working undercover drug investigations we became aware of the possible abuse of the program. I directed my narcotic investigators to run a pilot investigation in an undercover capacity to gauge the extent of the problem in the Chipley, Washington County area.

The investigations lead to several individuals being charged with Food Stamp Fraud for selling, purchasing or exchanging their EBT/SNAP benefits for cash or drugs. We found that typically the person possessing the card usually sells the card for half the value. Meaning a card that has a $200.00 value will be sold for $100.00. We also have identified some drug dealers that told undercover officers that they usually buy 8 to 10 cards a month from mostly the same people and
they would buy as many as they can.

This program is designed to feed families. These people are literally taking food from their children’s mouths for their own personal gain as well as abusing tax payer funds. We will continue to target those engaged in EBT Fraud. The results of the investigation found that there is a substantial amount of fraud to justify an ongoing criminal investigation into further EBT fraud in the Chipley/Washington County area by CPD.”

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