Attorney General Tackles Food Stamp Fraud

[gtxvideo vid=”KKdNwYd6″ playlist=”” pid=”rkijshg2″ thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/KKdNwYd6.jpg” vtitle=”Food Stamp Fraud”]

Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — South Carolina is cracking down on people who abuse the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP. “You’re slapping the faces of needy families across South Carolina when you sell your SNAP card or you defraud that system and you’re certainly slapping the faces of the taxpayers and that’s certainly not something we’re gonna sit by and watch,” said Attorney General Alan Wilson. The Attorney General is taking action. Earlier this year, he set up a special unit to investigate and prosecute people who abuse the food stamp program, after receiving a grant from the USDA. He explained some people will trade in their food stamp card at retailers and redeem some of it for cash. “That benefit card was never intended to be a debit card or it was never intended to be used to go to a strip club or go to a liquor store,” explained Wilson. “It was intended to provide essential support for children.” Now, 90 days after starting the special unit, the Attorney General said 6 people plead guilty last week to food stamp fraud and they recovered nearly $25,000. He said he hopes the success they’ve seen so far, makes people think twice about acting fraudulently in the future. “When they start to see that we’re out there looking and patrolling and investigating this type of fraud, our hope is that it will prevent that fraud from even happening to begin with,” said Wilson. The Attorney General said they are continuing several investigations. Anyone who suspects food stamp fraud is asked to call the SNAP Fraud Hotline at 1-800-616-1309.