19 people from Portland and Gresham have been indicted on charges involving the theft of $500,000 from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits cards across the US.
The group purchased baby formula and stored it in Oregon and Washington before selling it on the black market in California.
SNAP Scam Suspects Charged In Oregon
Initially, a Portland Police detective heard from retail partners that large quantities of baby formula were being bought using SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits cards.
The retailers suspected the cards were being used fraudulently and that the scam victimized vulnerable community members who rely on SNAP benefits to feed themselves and their families. The scammers used several stores in their scheme, including Fred Meyer, Safeway, and Winco…