Dozens indicted in Georgia food stamp fraud

[mick silver]

I am not saying this is right but not one banker has seen the inside of a jail ... By David Beasley



ATLANTA (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors in Georgia announced indictments on Tuesday against 88 people in one of the country's largest food-stamp fraud cases.
Fifty-four defendants were accused in an alleged scheme to open grocery stores in Georgia that would buy food stamps and cash vouchers at deep discounts, which the stores would then redeem with the federal government at full value.
The defendants also allegedly conspired to launder $18 million in profit from the plot.
An additional 34 people were indicted on charges they sold their benefits for cash.
The government is also seeking the forfeiture of $20 million from the defendants and other assets including a 2008 Land Rover and a 2008 Mercedes Benz.
Both the voucher and food stamp programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and funded with federal tax dollars, prosecutors said.
The vouchers provide infant formula, fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods to low-income pregnant and postpartum women and their children.
"The government alleges that the defendants stole taxpayer-funded benefits intended to feed the most needy families and children in our communities," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Edward Tarver said in a statement.
(Editing by David Adams, Peter Cooney and Cynthia Osterman)

[Dachsie]

J P Morgan Bank is the one issuing the Food Stamp Cards so they get a cut of all this.

I used to be a social worker in Houston back in 70s and people were selling their food stamps for cash and buying "LTDs" with their profits. It's an old game.

Many of the people on food stamps do not really need them but do make maximum "use" of having the commodities given out by the county or the food stamps. Back then they were actual food paper stamps but now the electronic card is a bit of a different game but still scamable.

I really think African American people were better off share cropping in the south and living in their little shanties than their being herded up North to urban crime jungles in high rise combat zone urban renewal project housing. Way back then they had their own little plot of land they could grow their own food on and if their employer was not a tyrant their existence greatly increased their chances of raising good Christian families.

The welfare/food card environment for large northeastern cities is a dog eat dog crime ridden survival game.