170 stores across NYC’s five boroughs involved in initial investigation.
The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Administration announced a coordinated effort to end fraudulent usage of SNAP benefits in New York City. The USDA’s Operation SNAP Back deployed hundreds of undercover agents to investigate 170 bodegas, convenience stores, and grocery stores in all five NYC boroughs.
“The message is clear, if you accept any portion of an annual $100 billion taxpayer program, you must follow the rules or face the consequences,“ USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said. “We owe it to every American taxpayer to safeguard their hard-earned dollars, and these latest enforcement actions are just a small part of the Food and Nutrition Administration’s efforts to remove criminals and bad actors from food stamps.”
Common fraudulent SNAP transactions include exchanging SNAP benefits for cash or purchasing ineligible items, such as alcohol and non-food items. Retailers that allow these illicit exchanges face temporary or, in some cases, permanent removal from the program.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Rollins as she oversees the effort to end the fraudulent use of SNAP benefits.
- For USDA officials involved in Operation SNAP Back activities to prevent illegal SNAP purchases and exchanges.
Sources: Department of Agriculture
