A cashier at a party supply store on Los Angeles’ Skid Row is expected to plead not guilty Tuesday at his arraignment on federal charges alleging food stamp benefits fraud.
Jesse Cervantes-Gomez, 30, is accused of selling SNAP benefits in exchange for cash at Escamex Party Supplies on Towne Avenue. The warehouse-style store sells low-priced Mexican candies and snacks, as well as piñatas and party supplies.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office contends the store has processed over $1 million in suspicious SNAP food stamp transactions. Investigators said they flagged the shop because it processed more than $732,000 in SNAP food stamp transactions in one year, nearly double the volume of nearby competitors, and had large average transaction sizes, which they said were signs of fraudulent purchases…