"NYC Bodega Robbery: 2 Charged with $20 Million SNAP Benefit Theft"

Two individuals have been charged with stealing over $20 million in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by allowing recipients to exchange benefits for cash or non-eligible goods at a Brooklyn bodega. The defendants allegedly made thousands of fraudulent transactions and used counterfeit and stolen SNAP EBT cards to steal benefits from recipients across multiple states. They were arrested and charged with SNAP fraud, access device fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York condemned their actions, emphasizing the importance of protecting government programs intended to provide nutritious meals for those in need.