Federal authorities have launched a nationwide investigation into illegal immigrants accused of food stamp fraud, arresting several who allegedly exploited the program meant for low-income Americans.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified several illegal immigrants accused of SNAP fraud, including multiple Haitian nationals.
“These arrests mark the opening salvo in a sustained, large-scale ICE operation specifically targeting illegal aliens who have fraudulently accessed SNAP benefits that American taxpayers fund exclusively for U.S. citizens in need,” DHS said.
On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance and Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, joined by other federal officials, held a news conference at the FBI field office in Cincinnati, Ohio, to announce a large-scale anti-fraud crackdown on food stamp fraudsters.
The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division uncovered alleged or proven schemes connected to over $42 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fraud, federal officials announced during the news conference.
SNAP is a federally funded food assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families purchase groceries.
In total, 13 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Utah Attorney General’s Office join federal partners in pursuing criminal charges against more than 40 alleged fraudsters across the country.
DHS has joined the nationwide SNAP benefit fraud enforcement surge, leading to several arrests with more anticipated.
Federal law generally bars immigrants living in the country illegally from receiving SNAP benefits. However, some lawfully present noncitizens may qualify for the program, and fraudsters have figured out how to steal people’s identities and electronic benefit transfer cards.
“Every one of these individuals entered the country unlawfully, then proceeded to draw from a program designed to feed struggling American families, in some cases while carrying criminal records,” DHS officials said in a news release.
According to federal officials, Elizabeth Povea Rodriguez, a Cuban citizen, was arrested by ICE for SNAP fraud. Her criminal history includes a conviction for disorderly conduct and arrests for battery and domestic violence.
Haitian Rubstony Junior Theodore was also arrested by ICE. His criminal history includes arrests for larceny, obstruction of officers and trespassing, DHS said.
Three other Haitian illegal migrants, Wilbert Jean Baptiste, Louis Jean and Jhensly Charles, were also taken into custody and accused of stealing SNAP benefits.
In Massachusetts, Fernandez Guzman, a Dominican national, is accused of stealing the identity of a U.S. citizen to fraudulently obtain $22,402 in SNAP benefits, $98,481.25 in MassHealth benefits, and $45,596 in Section 8 housing benefits, according to charging documents.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue to track down and detain illegal immigrants who have abused SNAP benefits.
“Illegal aliens who have no right to be here in the first place are the last people who should be using SNAP benefits and other forms of welfare,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.
Mullin said even non-violent crime committed by illegal immigrants can still have “devastating consequences” when it comes to defrauding the American taxpayer.
“The illegal alien fraudsters that we’ve already arrested and deported are just a drop in the bucket, and the Trump Administration is committed to going after all these thieves and bringing them to justice,” Mullin said.
Vice President Vance, also an Ohio native, leads the anti-fraud task force, which was created in February to investigate and prosecute people stealing from American taxpayers.
The White House has reportedly identified $260.7 billion in fraud across the federal government since Trump took office, according to The White House’s webpage devoted to fraud.
The Fraud Division, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the USDA Office of Inspector General, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and other law enforcement partners were involved in the SNAP fraud investigations.
The recent arrests and indictments follow prior actions like USDA’s Operation SNAP Back in New York’s five boroughs and recent high-profile indictments.
In Georgia, social media personality Mercedes Reshard New, who goes by “Shawty Dred,” was arrested Oct. 13 for allegedly stealing more than $4 million in SNAP benefits.
New, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, allegedly controlled more than 350 fraudulent SNAP accounts that were created using stolen identities and flaunted his lavish lifestyle on Instagram and TikTok, federal officials said.
