Feds bust food stamp fraud ring in Seattle

October 5, 2010 @ 5:03 pm (Updated: 1:37 pm - 3/28/11 )

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By ALEX SILVERMAN
KIRO Radio

Federal agents arrested a grocery store owner and two other women in Seattle's International District on Tuesday for fraud.

So-called runners would find people with food stamp debit cards and pay them fifty cents on the dollar in cash for their benefits, Emilie Langlie with the U.S. attorney's office, told KIRO Radio.

"Let's say that they swipe that you purchased $200 worth of goods, they give you $100 and they keep $100 and yet they've not provided any goods at all," said Langlie.

She said federal agents and Seattle police found nearly $2 million in fraud at the Seattle Chinese Herb and Grocery and Hop Thanh Supermarket, both located at 12th and Jackson.

"These benefits are for people who need to put food on the table. This type of fraud is not going to be tolerated," said Langlie.

Follow Alex Silverman on twitter @alexsilverman

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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • Jake The Snail wrote...
    whats the big deal?
    October 5, 2010 5:04 pm
    Okay, yeah get the shop owner sure, but how about lets kick all the people, who exchanged their stamp money for cash, out of the program,,, 2 million,,, i bet we can save that much with them off the books
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wonderfullone wrote...
    Yeah, don't bust the crack stamp recipients
    October 5, 2010 5:33 pm
    That would violate our 'values'.

    Hundreds of millions in welfare fraud, but we don't care, because the Feds reimburse us, so the more we can blow, the better.

    Anyhow, these welfare sponges will just find another way to defraud. So Good Job Mush Heads.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mzpalmerii wrote...
    Is anyone suprised?
    October 5, 2010 7:43 pm
    I enjoy watching the folks in line in front of me at 7-11 using food stamps for a 20oz soda, fun size bag of chips, and snickers bar. If they are poor enough to take gov money, they should be poor enough to HAVE to use it wisely. If my tax dollar is buying you food.. you better be shopping at the discount grocery store getting as much as you can for my dollar.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • nurwho wrote...
    Freeattle
    October 5, 2010 9:31 pm
    What do you expect from Freeattle?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Simple ! UNLESS ? wrote...
    After the Dori blog
    October 5, 2010 10:18 pm
    Murry's a Lier
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DickeyDoo wrote...
    What about those involved?
    October 6, 2010 3:46 am
    Do they loose their privilege now and must pay the state back?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Country_Dog wrote...
    Yeah...
    October 6, 2010 5:42 am
    and we're being told that this won't happen with the new health care monstrosity or the various stimulus plans.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BellevueResident wrote...
    sounds like an
    October 6, 2010 11:23 am
    An Asian organized crime ring to me! Put them away for along time. I am sure this is not the only thing they are defrauding us with. Check out their relatives too! See if they are legally here. Or are they marrying each other to stay in this country.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }