The penalty will depend on the amount of money involved in the trafficking fraud, and they can range from one to 20 years in prison and fines ranging from 5,000 and 250,000 dollars. Trafficking may allow the recipient to pocket cash or to purchase non-food items, but recipients who engage in trafficking can face criminal penalties. This is a method that some SNAP recipients use to receive cash as payment for SNAP benefits. Trafficking can involve selling the EBT card or PIN number to a person or to a retailer. Trafficking may occur between SNAP recipients and SNAP retailers or an individual outside of the program. It involves selling SNAP benefits to obtain cash or unapproved products. SNAP trafficking is the most common intentional program violation that takes place in the food stamp program. In 2012 alone, the FNS investigators examined more than 15,000 stores for fraud and completed nearly 4,500 undercover SNAP investigations.Īs a result, 1,400 stores were permanently disqualified for SNAP, and nearly 700 were sanctioned for SNAP violations, including selling ineligible items. The federal government seeks to prosecute those who violate SNAP regulations. The government is actively seeking to end Food Stamp Fraud. The FNS works with state law enforcement to offer SNAP benefits for use in sting operations to support anti-trafficking. They also process cases and initiate fines and administrative disqualifications against any violating retailers. The FNS analyzes retailer data and conducts undercover investigations. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has appointed a team with more than 100 analysts and investigators across the US that are dedicated to ensuring SNAP retailer compliance and conducting anti-trafficking operations. The ALERT system monitors electronic transactions and SNAP activity to determine suspicious stores, which are then examined more closely in an analysis and investigation process. An electronic audit trail is obtained from EBT transactions, which is utilized by the USDA and FNS to identify trafficking and suspicious activity.Īn Anti-Fraud Locator is used to monitor EBT Retailer Transactions. The SNAP electronic benefits transfer provides the USDA with tools that are used to identify, track, and take action against SNAP trafficking. SNAP fraud has dropped dramatically because of increased oversight and improvements that have been made in the program management by the USDA. Any violations should be taken seriously. Violations of SNAP rules and regulations are counteractive to the goals and purpose of the program, and these regulations should be strictly adhered to. SNAP rules and regulations are guidelines that ensure that needy households in the US have the basic foods that are needed. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) are federal entities that oversee the SNAP benefits, enforce the regulations and run the program. Chapter 51) and the Code of Federal Regulations (7 C.F.R. SNAP Food stamp benefits are regulated by United States Code (7 U.S.C. The United States Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is overseen by each state but is run on a national level by the government. Fraud also occurs when previously disqualified retailers, who have been removed from the retail program due to past abuse and application deception, lie on their application to requalify for the program. Fraud also occurs when unapproved items are purchased with SNAP benefits, or when cash is provided in exchange for the card or pin.
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