Seventeen individuals have been charged with conspiring to defraud the U.S. of more than $2.4 million through fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced Thursday.
According to court documents, the following individuals have been arrested and charged with conspiring to defraud the United States: Ramirez Dumitru, 25; Giovanni Spirea, 28; Santa-Madalina Costache, 25; Florin Mareata, 25; Anita Vaduva, 36; Ion Paul Miclescu, 19; Nicolas Barbosu, 25; Alberto Tomescu, 27; Oana Aura Cristina Caldararu, 23; Roberta Elena Sardaru, 27; Salvis Foro Dunca, 26; Ana Patricia Escalante, 57; Jessica Gonzalez, 27; Edwin Lionel Santizo-Ralon, 54; Cristina Yesenia Escalante, 33; Edgar Basilio Hernandez, 33; and Marta Hernandez de Estrada, 53.
“This group targeted a program that ensures access to healthy and affordable groceries for low-income and food insecure individuals and families,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon in a statement.