NY Food Stamp Fraud Attorney

Food Stamp Abuse Bust Arrest 30 In 2015
It took involvement from the USDA, Services Fraud Unit, Franklin County DA's Office, and NY's Office of Disability, to crack down on a case of Food Stamp Fraud Abuse. In January 2015, 30 people were arrested in connection to a food stamp sting operation, with one person facing a 7-year penalty. Apparently a butcher store allowed food stamp purchases on items such as alcohol, and allowing customers to receive cash back which under the food stamp law is illegal. With the crackdown on state assistance fraud, U.S. citizens can expect a tighter grip from state officials investigating such fraud. Under the current law food stamps cannot be used to purchase non-food items such as gas or paper goods and receiving cash in exchange for food stamps is punishable by law.

Food Stamp Abuse on the Decline
In light of recent events, it can be assumed that food stamp fraud is an ongoing crime that is on the rise while in reality this type of crime is rare and such illegal activities are on a steady decline but, congress is using every welfare fraud case imaginable in an attempt to discredit the program. Right now the U.S. is spending "$79.8 billion annually" in food stamp aid. -Kim Severson, NY Times 2013. While the government's vice-like grip on food stamp fraud is noticeable, aids like Medicaid and Medicare fraud are on the rise and make up around 10 percent of aid government aid abuse.

Abuse Won't Be Tolerated
Even though the food stamp black market makes up less than 2% of overall abuse, government officials won't tolerate even that low number. Kevin Concannon the Dept of Agriculture Secretary says he “won't tolerate even this small amount of abuse.”-NY Times 2013

Crackdown And Aftermath
The government's crackdown is being felt in every aspect of the food stamp black market with the poor being targeted most and feeling the sting more so than their financially well off counterparts. With a crackdown of this magnitude and undercover investigations taking on a more prominent role, citizens can expect an overall decrease of stores and business participating in this illegal activity. Now that the black market for food stamp fraud is making a dent in nefarious activities, maybe the government will shift its focus to more pressing concerns, such as the hunger and homeless problem in our country.

Read additional information at NY food stamp fraud attorney.