SNAP and Social Safety Net Oversight

Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts have charged Haitian nationals Antonio Bonheur, 74, and Saul Alisme, 21, with defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of more than $7 million by redeeming benefits through two tiny storefronts in Massachusetts, sometimes totaling about $500,000 per month. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said the Jesula Variety Store and Saul Mache Mixe Store were not real grocery operations and exploited lax oversight, while Gov. Maura Healey noted her administration flagged suspicious activity to federal authorities and the Trump administration is now threatening to cut federal funds to states that fail to inspect SNAP payments as part of a wider welfare‑fraud crackdown.