Two Haitian men have been charged for allegedly running a fraud scheme through their Boston storefronts that stole an estimated $7 million in food stamp benefits.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleges in the indictment that Antonio Bonheur, 74, owned Jesula Variety Store, and Saul Alisme, 21, owned Saul Mache Mixe Store in the same Mattapan neighborhood storefront building. Both stores allegedly had “exceptionally large and anomalous” monthly redemptions for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“Despite their limited size, inventory and food offerings, both stores allegedly exhibited extraordinarily high SNAP redemption volumes, far beyond what could reasonably be supported by legitimate food sales,” the DOJ said. Investigators found Bonheur’s store’s monthly SNAP redemptions often exceeded $100,000, and sometimes reached over $500,000.
ICYMI: Earlier today, federal charges were announced against two men for an alleged scheme that trafficked nearly $7 million in SNAP benefits through small variety stores in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood.
Read more here: https://t.co/8z6uSBvhZy pic.twitter.com/utCSuHXUK5
— U.S. Attorney Massachusetts (@DMAnews1) December 17, 2025
“This was not a sophisticated fraud scheme, and it didn’t have to be, because the lack of oversight was all that was needed to allow it to happen,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah B. Foley said. “This case is just the start. Public assistance programs are a lifeline. We will not allow them to be treated as a criminal revenue stream.”
The investigation found more than 70% of the stores’ transactions exceeded $95 and 10% were under $40, a pattern the DOJ said is “typically associated with large supermarkets, not small variety stores with limited food inventory.”
🚨 HOLY CRAP! MAJOR SNAP fraud exposed in Massachusetts, committed by Haitian migrants Antonio Bonheur and Saul Alisme to the tune of $7 million
The US attorney says they ran fake stores to turn SNAP benefits into cash, earning up to $480K per MONTH
"Jesula Variety Store… pic.twitter.com/Ynr1l3xXHM
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 18, 2025
The two men also allegedly traded SNAP benefits for cash, as well as sold liquor for the benefits during undercover operations. Both men also allegedly were “profiting from food intended for humanitarian relief” by selling meal packs donated by a nonprofit that were supposed to go to starving children in other countries, according to the DOJ.
Bonheur, a naturalized U.S. citizen, and Alisme, a Haitian citizen and lawful U.S. resident, each face one charge of food stamp fraud, which carries up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and up to $250,000 in fines.
