MINNEAPOLIS — Special agents with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Homeland Security Investigations executed criminal search warrants at multiple Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retail locations around the Twin Cities Thursday, according to the USDA’s Office of Inspector General.
In a press release, the USDA said it worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to identify retailers that “fraudulently trafficked in SNAP benefits,” and used the warrants to gather evidence, which was referred to federal prosecutors. In addition to the search warrants, agents issued administrative charging letters to 20 separate retailers. If those charges are proven, the USDA says they could be penalized or removed from the program.
“Fraudulent SNAP retailers steal from victims that include children who rely on federal nutrition assistance and dishonor the charity of American taxpayers who fund the assistance,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk in the release. “OIG will continue to work hand-in-hand with federal law enforcement partners and agencies across the government in the war on fraud and hold criminals to account.”…