Seattle police arrest nearly a dozen people for food stamp fraud

Following a three-month undercover operation, Seattle police arrested nearly a dozen people for food stamp fraud in the Chinatown-International District (CID). The operation started back in July, and arrests have been made in the last five days, according to Seattle Police.

Eleven people have been arrested so far, and seven more are being sought as the investigation continues.

Investigation into food stamp fraud

“People would get these cards for food, and they would sell the card and then get the money and go buy drugs,” Seattle Police Department (SPD) Detective Brian Pritchard said.

The suspects allegedly paid the sellers fifty cents on the dollar for EBT cards on the streets of the CID. They would then work with retailers, who police said were involved in the scheme, to turn the cards into cash.

“They would buy the card, then go to local businesses and use those cards to purchase items. They were working with the business. They would buy the items, then sell the items back,” Pritchard explained.

In some cases, Pritchard said the purchased items never left the store where they were purchased. In other instances, the goods would be sold to restaurants, businesses, and private individuals in King and Snohomish counties.

Officers found that crime ring members partnered up with drug traffickers to let them know who was paid in cash. Drug dealers then targeted those vulnerable individuals.

“Officers found that narcotics sellers were aware of the EBT schemes and that the addicted people now had cash on hand,” SPD Captain Garth Green said. “They [the drug dealers] would then be in the area selling narcotics to take advantage of the influx of cash.”

Investigators said those who sold their EBT cards are seen as victims, but he said they could still face accountability for selling their cards.

“That money could go to someone who really needs it. So, if this is someone who continues to do something like that, I’m sure they’re going to take a look at possibly disqualifying some of these people,” Pritchard said.

SPD partnered with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) throughout the investigation.

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