Two Massachusetts store owners are facing serious federal charges after authorities uncovered a massive fraud scheme involving the theft of millions of dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).1 Federal prosecutors allege that the two men, who operated small variety stores in Boston, trafficked nearly $7 million in food stamp benefits.2 The case has shocked local residents and officials alike, not only due to the sheer scale of the theft but also because of the disturbing nature of some of the allegations, which include profiting from charitable food donations meant for starving children overseas.3
A Massive Scheme Uncovered in Mattapan
The investigation centers on two small businesses located in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston: Jesula Variety Store and Saul Mache Mixe Store.4 According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the owners of these establishments—74-year-old Antonio Bonheur and 21-year-old Saul Alisme—were arrested and charged with one count each of food stamp fraud.5 The two shops operated out of a single storefront on Blue Hill Avenue, a small space that authorities say was woefully ill-equipped to handle the volume of sales they claimed to be processing.6
Prosecutors allege that the fraud took place over a sustained period, during which the defendants exchanged SNAP benefits for cash, a practice known as “trafficking.”7 In a typical transaction, a recipient would swipe their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card for a certain amount, and the store owner would give them a percentage of that value in cash, pocketing the rest as profit. This type of exchange is strictly prohibited, as SNAP benefits are federally funded and intended solely to help low-income families purchase necessary food items.
Red Flags and Suspicious Transaction Data
The scheme began to unravel when investigators noticed glaring anomalies in the transaction data coming from the two stores.8 despite their tiny size—Jesula Variety Store occupied only about 150 square feet, while Saul Mache Mixe Store was roughly 500 square feet—their transaction volumes rivaled, and often exceeded, those of large, full-service supermarkets.9 Authorities noted that the stores lacked basic grocery infrastructure such as shopping carts, optical scanners, or significant inventory, yet they were redeeming hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits every month.10
Data analysis revealed that the stores consistently processed transactions that were highly unusual for convenience stores.11 For instance, while a typical convenience store sees small purchases for items like milk or bread, over 70% of the transactions at these locations exceeded $95.12 Furthermore, monthly redemptions for Jesula Variety Store alone frequently topped $100,000, occasionally reaching as high as $500,000.13 By comparison, a full-service supermarket in the same area typically redeems around $82,000 per month.14 This discrepancy provided the initial spark for a deeper federal probe.
Comparison of Monthly SNAP Redemptions
The following table highlights the stark contrast between the alleged fraudulent activity at the defendants’ stores and legitimate business averages in the area.
| Metric | Jesula Variety Store (Alleged) | Full-Service Supermarket (Average) | Typical Convenience Store |
| Monthly Redemptions | $100,000 – $500,000 | ~$82,000 | ~$2,000 – $15,000 |
| Transaction Size | 70% over $95 | Mixed (Large & Small) | Mostly under $20 |
| Store Size | ~150 sq. ft. | ~40,000+ sq. ft. | ~2,000+ sq. ft. |
| Inventory Type | Limited dry goods, no carts | Full grocery selection | Snacks, drinks, basics |
Exploiting Charity and Selling Prohibited Items
Beyond the cash-for-benefits scheme, the allegations contain even more troubling details regarding the goods being sold.15 Federal agents who conducted undercover operations reported that the defendants were willing to exchange SNAP benefits for alcohol, which is strictly forbidden under the program’s rules.16 Undercover officers successfully purchased liquor using EBT cards during their investigation, further cementing the evidence against the store owners.17
Perhaps the most shocking allegation involves the sale of “MannaPack” meals. These rice-based meals are produced by the nonprofit organization Feed My Starving Children and are funded entirely by donations.18 They are specifically designed for distribution to malnourished children in developing nations and are never authorized for retail sale.19 Investigators claim the defendants were selling these donated humanitarian meals for approximately $8 per package, effectively monetizing charity intended for the world’s most vulnerable populations.20
The Investigation and Legal Consequences
The case was built through a combination of data analytics, surveillance, and undercover work.21 Agents observed customers entering the stores and leaving without any groceries, despite their EBT cards being charged for significant amounts.22 In other instances, customers were seen leaving with only small items that did not match the high dollar values of the transactions.23 These observations, combined with the hard data from the SNAP processing systems, led to the swift arrest of Bonheur and Alisme.
Both men now face serious legal repercussions. The charge of food stamp fraud carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $250,000.24 Authorities have emphasized that they will aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to defraud the social safety net, viewing such crimes as a direct theft from taxpayers and a violation of the public trust.25 The government also seeks to recover the funds lost through the scheme, though the process of asset forfeiture and restitution can be complex.
Protecting the Integrity of Social Programs
This case highlights the ongoing battle federal agencies face in protecting the integrity of social welfare programs.26 When millions of dollars are siphoned away by fraudulent retailers, it undermines public confidence in the system and threatens the funding available for those who genuinely need assistance. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that SNAP is critical for feeding families and that using it to bankroll criminal enterprises will not be tolerated.27
As the legal process moves forward, this case serves as a stark warning to other retailers who might be tempted to exploit the system. The use of sophisticated data monitoring allows officials to identify outliers quickly, making it increasingly difficult for large-scale fraud to go unnoticed. For the community in Mattapan, the arrests bring a mix of relief that justice is being served and disappointment that local businesses were allegedly used to exploit a safety net meant for their neighbors.
FAQs
Q1 What is SNAP fraud in the context of retailers?
Retailer SNAP fraud, often called trafficking, occurs when a store owner exchanges food stamp benefits for cash instead of selling eligible food items.28 The retailer typically charges the full amount to the government and splits the cash proceeds with the benefit recipient.
Q2 How did authorities detect this specific fraud?
Investigators flagged the stores because their transaction volumes were impossibly high for their size.29 A 150-square-foot shop redeeming $500,000 a month—far more than a large supermarket—created a statistical anomaly that triggered an automatic review and subsequent undercover investigation.30
Q3 What happens to the customers who sold their benefits?
While this investigation focused on the store owners, SNAP recipients who sell their benefits for cash can also face penalties. These may include temporary or permanent disqualification from the program, repayment of the trafficked benefits, and potential criminal prosecution depending on the amount involved.
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