The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps, is a government program designed to assist low-income families in the purchase of needed food. However, when the system is abused or used for personal gain rather than genuine assistance, this is considered food stamp fraud. It’s a crime, and it can be punished by disqualification from the program at best, and hefty fines and prison time at worst.
Food stamp (or SNAP) fraud can take a number of forms, and can be committed either by the individuals receiving benefits or by the retailers who participate in the SNAP program. The most common offense is “trafficking,” in which food stamps are unlawfully exchanged for cash. However, it’s also considered fraud if you’re a recipient and you lie on an application in order to get SNAP benefits, or to get more benefits than you actually need. If you are a retailer previously disqualified from the program, and you lie on the application in order to get back into the program, this is also considered fraud.
While SNAP is a federal program, benefits are overseen by the states, and violations are prosecuted by the states, as well. This means that penalties for violations frequently differ according to state. In some states, food stamp fraud is considered a felony offense for as little as $100 in trafficking; in other states, the felony threshold is as high as $5000.
If found guilty of food stamp fraud, at the very least, you’ll be disqualified from participation, or you may also be asked to pay back the equivalent of what you took illegally. However, depending on the circumstances and severity of the violation(s), as well as the state in which the fraud occurred, SNAP fraud can also be accompanied by fines in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and prison sentences of up to 25 years.
If you have been accused or are being investigated for food stamp fraud, it’s important to have a knowledgeable attorney to advise you and to represent your interests. Call the Federal Criminal Law Center today at 404.633.3797.
