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SNAP benefits have been in the headlines
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because of the lack of funding right now
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during the government shutdown. But
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tonight, it's also making headlines for
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another reason as well. An investigation
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into those benefits being used
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News5 anchor Tracy Carlo tells us one
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person has been indicted. Tens of
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thousands of dollars recovered.
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SNAP benefits are supposed to be used to
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help feed some of the most vulnerable
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But police say that was not the case at
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a store on Lraine Avenue in Cleveland.
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The Ohio Investigative Unit, the US
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Secret Service moneyaundering task
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force, and the USDA's Food Nutrition
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Services joined forces for an 11-month
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snap trafficking investigation. And when
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there were around somewhere around
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17,000 in illegal transactions that took
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place. Somewhere in the neighborhood of
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100,000 was recovered from that
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investigation. Agents say those benefits
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were illegally traded for cash, clothes,
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even appliances. Investigators followed
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the money trail, crunched the numbers,
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and say they found fraudulent activity.
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Exchanging the SNAP benefits for cash.
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That's kind of one of the most common
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forms of trafficking for the SNAP
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program. A Kyhoga County grand jury
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indicted the owner, Rup Chetri, on
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several felony charges, including
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illegal use of SNAP benefits and money
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laundering in Cleveland. Tracy Carlos,
