This may be the first time I’ve seen a case where Vietnamese immigrants are running a convenience store food stamp scam. Although that Seattle Chinese grocer a few weeks back employed Vietnamese who were scooped up in the bust with the store owner.
New readers, these are not scams involving petty food stamp fraud, like all the other cases (just had one two days ago, Indians probably) this case involves the big scam—trading cash for stamps usually at 50 cents on the dollar. The customer gets the cash and the store owner/manager turns in the claim to the Department of Agriculture (American tax payer) for the full one dollar. It’s a redistribution of wealth, but I must say based on the number of busts I’m seeing, the Obama Administration seems to be cracking down pretty well. I just noted this week also that Open Borders advocates are furious that the Obama Administration for deporting illegal aliens at very high rates, here.
And, one more point, I get alerts on these cases almost daily and I think I have never seen one that involves a Smith, Jones or other traditional American name, they virtually all involve immigrant run stores.
From the Grand Rapids Press:
GRAND RAPIDS – The owners of a Marathon C-Store pleaded guilty to food-stamp fraud for redeeming government food benefits in exchange for cash and ineligible items.
Hai “Henry” Bui, and his wife, Thao Thi Trinh, entered the pleas Thursday in U.S. District Court. Earlier, his brother, Cuong Thahn “John” Bui, who worked as manager, and a nephew, Tuyen Khanh Nguyen, a clerk, pleaded guilty to charges in the scheme at 1405 Burton St. SE.
The defendants redeemed electronic food-stamp benefits and Women, Infant and Children benefits for cash and unapproved items such as cigarettes, phone cards and gasoline – at a 100 percent markup, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler wrote in court papers.
The government has seized $260,000 from the defendants.
I wonder how much they actually stole because the seizure of money and property is usually far less than the full amount of the thievery.
Why do I write about these cases when it may not directly involve refugees (although these Vietnamese may in fact have come here in the refugee program)? I write about these cases because no one else does, no one else links all the immigrant fraud schemes. Oh, and beware, just a reminder, I have seen some cases now where the seller of the food stamp benefit is also brought up on legal charges.
I’m sorry I never made a special category for ‘food stamp fraud’ here at RRW, but I had no idea when we had a case locally 3 years ago that it would be so widespread. Just use our search function for ‘food stamp fraud’ and you will see dozens of similar cases.