The SNAP Fraud and Abuse poster provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture makes it clear: buying and selling SNAP benefits is a federal crime. It even gives contact information for reporting abuse in FNS programs…a reminder that David Quinones must have looked at every day in his store as it is required to be posted in all SNAP authorized stores. That reminder that didn’t stop Quinones from stealing over one and a half million dollars from the U.S. taxpayer in his SNAP benefit scheme.
Retail stores authorized to participate in SNAP can accept SNAP benefits through Link (EBT) cards as payment for eligible food items like fruits, vegetables, and meat. The Department of Agriculture makes it clear that benefits are only to be used for food and not cash. As the poster says, “Don’t Do It!” But between 2018 and 2023, Quinones paid cash to people enrolled in SNAP in exchange for access to their Link cards and associated identification numbers. He used those cards to buy goods at other authorized retail stores, fraudulently representing himself as the authorized user of the cards. He then re-sold most of the goods at his own store, keeping the proceeds for himself. In total, Quinones “bought” more than 1,200 cards and fraudulently caused the USDA to pay out approximately $1,554,804 in SNAP benefits.
His sentencing is scheduled for June 18.
Excellent job by Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General in this case.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Man pleads guilty to $1.5 million in SNAP fraud” published by The Center Square on February 13, 2025.
A man pleaded guilty to illegally getting $1.5 million in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. David Quinones, 44, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
SNAP is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. states. The program was designed to provide benefits to supplement the food budgets of eligible individuals and families. Retail stores authorized to participate in SNAP can accept SNAP benefits through EBT cards, also known as Link cards, as payment for eligible food items. It is illegal for stores or people to exchange Link cards for cash or other items.