Food Stamp Fraud Targeted, but Not Bank Fraud

[The Straight Story]

Food Stamp Fraud Targeted, but Not Bank Fraud


Going after criminal cases targeting fraud has come down to what’s easier to prosecute for the Obama administration.

While Americans of all stripes have clamored for justice in the wake of the financial crisis, the U.S. Department of Justice has chosen to not pursue jail time for banking executives whose decisions wreaked havoc on the financial industry and the economy. The reason: Building cases against bankers is just too hard to do and carries too much risk of failure in the courtroom.

Instead, the Justice Department has allowed the Securities and Exchange Commission to pursue civil cases directed at banks that can yield large financial penalties, but no criminal prosecutions.

With bank fraud out of reach, federal prosecutors have reached for lower-hanging fruit—namely, food stamp cheaters.

http://www.allgov.com/Where_is_the_Money_Going/ViewNews/Food_Stamp_Fraud_Targeted_but_Not_Bank_Fraud_111208

[Jim Warren]

1. Who could argue

over the obvious lapse of the USDOJ in ferreting out the fraudulent banksters? But to be fair, the WP article explains this DOJ action is targeting SNAP fraud with retailers:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/obama-administration-targeting-food-stamp-fraud-as-program-reaches-record-highs/2011/12/05/gIQAfdM3XO_blog.html

Where I live a food retailer was recently busted for offering 80 cents cash on the dollar for SNAP benefits. Anecdotally, I'd seen it in action on several occasions, the most recent a tweaky looking young dude conducting business with the owner, swiped his card with no purchase and got handed his "change". That sucks, degrades the program and hurts people who really need food.

[MrMickeysMom]

2. In our county alone, over 1,000 people SHOULD have food stamps...

... but haven't received the SNAP program benefits. Why? I think if I filled out massive paperwork, made even more difficult by the new Republican Tom Corbit administration, there might be an issue or two getting decent food.

People aren't getting decent food, and THIS becomes an issue, if our governments think some are "cheating" to get decent food.

How fucking bad is THAT? :grr: