Massachusetts U.S. Legal professional Leah Foley is blaming the state DTA for failing to forestall an alleged SNAP fraud scheme from netting practically $7 million, whereas Gov. Maura Healey says her administration reported the “suspicious activity” to the feds.
Foley is taking a shot on the Division of Transitional Help over what she described as an absence of “diligence” in reviewing Antonio Bonheur’s utility for SNAP advantages in 2022.
Bonheur, 74, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Haiti dwelling in Mattapan, has been charged with one depend of meals stamp fraud in reference to the scheme that he allegedly operated out of a tiny retail retailer in Boston.
Jesula Selection Retailer, which Bonheur allegedly owned in Mattapan, started accepting SNAP advantages in September 2021, in response to charging paperwork. The person is accused of submitting a fraudulent utility for SNAP advantages, which he began receiving in 2022. He allegedly claimed that he didn’t have an revenue, however he did not listing his possession of the enterprise.
“It appears that the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance conducted virtually no diligence when reviewing his application,” Foley stated throughout a Wednesday afternoon information convention.
In response to a Herald inquiry, Gov. Healey’s workplace stated DTA notified the U.S. Division of Agriculture on Nov. 1, 2024 about “suspicious transactions” going down at Bonheur’s retailer.
The governor’s workplace additionally identified that USDA, not DTA, “manages the retailer’s application review and approval, and enforcement of reported fraud or suspicious transactions.”
“As a former Attorney General and now Governor,” Healey stated in an announcement shared with the Herald, “I will always support prosecution to the fullest extent of the law for anyone who engages in fraud or abuse of a federal program or any program.”
Saul Alisme, 21, a Haitian nationwide residing in Hyde Park, has additionally been arrested for partnering with Bonheur in working the “criminal enterprise.” Alisme allegedly owned the Saul Mache Mixe Retailer, throughout the identical Mattapan storefront because the Jesula Selection Retailer.
Foley stated in regards to the scheme, “This was not a sophisticated fraud scheme, and it didn’t have to be because the lack of oversight was all that was needed to allow it to happen.”
