By Robert Laurie ——Bio and Archives--September 30, 2015
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Progressives will tell you that food stamp fraud is basically a problem that doesn't exist. At best they'll admit that, perhaps, there are a few instances where a store sells something to a customer that shouldn't be covered by the SNAP program - but they'll claim those minor transgressions are extremely isolated cases. They'll regale you with tales of the hard-working poor who hold down two jobs and receive welfare just to make ends meet. Vida Ofori Causey, 45, was charged in an Information with one count of conspiracy to commit SNAP benefits fraud, one count of SNAP fraud, and one count of money laundering in connection with a four year fraud scheme. The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides eligible households with government subsidies for certain foodstuffs, and allows holders to exchange their SNAP benefits for food at authorized retail food stores. Causey was the owner and operator of J&W Aseda Plaza, a convenience store on Main Street in Worcester. From April 2010 to October 2014, Causey conspired with others to commit SNAP fraud by purchasing SNAP benefits from recipients rather than exchanging them for food. Causey purchased the benefits at a discounted value of approximately fifty cents for every SNAP dollar. By so doing, Causey caused the USDA to electronically deposit into a bank account controlled by her the full face value of the SNAP benefits fraudulently obtained. During the course of the conspiracy, Causey defrauded the USDA of approximately $3,638,900 in SNAP funds.Keep in mind, this is just one woman. Food stamp fraud takes place all day, every single day, in all fifty states. According to a 2014 GAO report, SNAP fraud is already rampant and it's accelerating as the size of the program grows. Last summer, one prosecution saw a group of 54 defendants charged with almost $18 Million in theft - in just one state. If you're inclined to say "sure, but at least it's being prosecuted," you should probably keep in mind that different states have different thresholds for investigation and prosecution. In Texas, for example, nothing will be prosecuted until at least $5,000 of fraud has been committed. There are, it seems, "acceptable" levels of crime where the welfare state is concerned. As usual with a big-government redistributive social program, abuse is built into the system, the left enables its continuation, and taxpayers are left holding the bag.
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