Yemeni, Haitian nationals CHARGED with SNAP theft in Boston and New York

Federal authorities have charged several Yemeni and Haitian nationals with stealing tens of millions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through elaborate fraud schemes at small convenience stores, building on similar cases involving Somali immigrants in recent years. The indictments highlight ongoing abuses in government programs at the hands of migrants.

Just the News reported that two Haitian men in Massachusetts face charges for operating bodegas in the Boston area that allegedly redeemed up to $500,000 in SNAP benefits monthly, despite the stores' small size and limited inventory. Those indicted in this case were Antonio Bonhuer, a naturalized US citizen, and Saul Alisme, a legal permanent resident. Prosecutors claim the stores, ranging from 150 to 500 square feet, far exceeded the average SNAP redemptions of much larger supermarkets, which typically handle about $82,000 per month, according to a criminal complaint.

The scheme involved exchanging SNAP benefits for cash at a discount, selling ineligible items like liquor and beer, and even profiting from "MannaPacks"—humanitarian rice meal packs intended for global aid, which were sold for $8 each. Undercover operations confirmed the fraud, with agents witnessing cash trafficking and noting that the stores generated minimal legitimate revenue. The duo is accused of laundering the proceeds through secondary bank accounts, netting an estimated $7 million in stolen benefits.

Meanwhile, in New York, Yemeni nationals Dawood Kassim and Dia Alqalisi were indicted for running a similar operation at Throop Farm Market in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Kassim, a US citizen born in Yemen and a licensed real estate agent, along with Alqulisi, who claims US birth to Yemeni parents, allegedly allowed customers to exchange SNAP benefits for cash or non-eligible goods while taking kickbacks, according to the indictment.

The scheme also involved using counterfeit and stolen Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, defrauding recipients across at least 10 states, including Oklahoma, where victims cannot be reimbursed due to state policies, prosecutors said. Authorities estimate the illicit Brooklyn operation siphoned off $20 million, with over $7 million coming from out-of-state beneficiaries.

These cases come amid broader scrutiny of SNAP fraud, particularly following high-profile indictments of Somali nationals in Minnesota accused of defrauding federal welfare programs. US Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has mandated data sharing to prevent benefits from going to illegal immigrants, with 29 states complying. In comparison, 21 Democratic-led states have filed lawsuits in opposition.