Latest news with #EBT
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Another Romanian convicted for EBT theft in Kern County
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — On Friday, Bogdan Boceanu was convicted of stealing EBT benefits from needy families in Kern County. Boceanu was found with more than $4,000 in stolen cash and 36 cloned EBT cards. He will serve 16 months in a Kern County Jail. His defense accepted an indicated sentence by the Judge Elizabet Rodriguez. This marks the second conviction in the romanian crime ring stealing EBT benefits. Let's take a look back at how we got here. Bogdan Boceanu was arrested in Delano and had an outstanding warrant. Through our investigation we learned he was first arrested in July of 2024 at the Bank of America in Wasco. That was where he tried to place a skimmer in the ATM to clone cards. He posted bail and the case was not filed by the DA until January 2025. Three months later he was re-arrested at the Wells Fargo in Delano and not given bail. The first Romanian convicted was Alberto-Ionel Baran, who was given an indicated sentence of two years by Judge Gloria Cannon. At the end of his court case it was announced Baran had 175 EBT fraudulent cards that had over $121,000 in stolen benefits. Baran's sentencing is scheduled for June 3, and Boceanu's for August 22. Three Romanians accused of EBT theft are still making their way through Kern's court system, they are Norbert Karaba, Giorgio Marcelo, and Nicolae Bud. Mari-Mar Milica and Fernando Stantu are still wanted for their total stands at seven linked to EBT theft by Kern's Romanian Crime Ring. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Great River Children's Museum announces June 10 opening in downtown St. Cloud
After many months of construction, one of the newest additions to downtown St. Cloud will open its doors next month. The long-awaited Great River Children's Museum will open to the public June 10, the museum announced Thursday. The museum will also host a grand opening celebration June 20 to 22, though details on the event are yet to be announced. The 31,000-squar- foot space will include eight core exhibits that provide interactive and educational experiences for children, such as its "Climber to the Clouds," "Great Big River" and "Headwaters" exhibits. It also has space for workshops, birthdays and corporate events. The museum also includes a rooftop deck for outdoor learning opportunities. "Everything is done with such intention, and that is part of the reason it takes a long time. It's not just the money… our children's museum is a unique children's museum, it was designed with hundreds of community voices involved," Executive Director Cassie Miles said in November about the process of creating the museum's exhibits. Museum tour: Lawmakers tour Great River Children's Museum in St. Cloud ahead of opening day The concept for the children's museum started in 2012, and construction on the site at 111 Seventh Ave. S. started last year after the Minnesota State Legislature approved a $7 million award for the construction phase of the project. The project cost $17 million total, according to the museum's website and will employ about 25 to 30 people. It also anticipates seeing 130,000 guests annually. Families looking to visit the museum can purchase a single-day general admission tickets for $14 per person, though children younger than one year old can enter for free. Memberships are also available as part of the GRCM's membership program that launched last month. A membership costs $150 for two people, and it is another $50 for each additional person. Membership includes unlimited access for a full calendar year, beginning on opening day, according to a release. The GRCM is also part of the Museums for All program, which reduces the price of daily admission for those receiving food assistance by presenting their EBT card and a photo ID. Downtown's future: St. Cloud business owners divided over courthouse relocation plans, solutions in the works Miles said last November that she wants all visitors to feel proud of the children's museum, and it is also meant to provide a welcoming and "joy-filled experience" for any child. The Great River Children's Museum will be open 9 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, except for later hours 9 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. It will be closed on Mondays. Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@ This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud's Great River Children's Museum opens in June
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arrest made in shooting of teen who was headed home after a graduation party
A DeLand man accused of shooting into a car and grazing a 16-year-old boy in the head while he was heading home from a graduation party was arrested Wednesday, according to the Volusia Sheriff's Office. Travis Fowler, 25, who was tracked down through a food stamp card he used at a gas station, was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on charges of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and providing false information to law enforcement. He was being held on Thursday without bail. The injured teen was struck in the head by the stray bullet after midnight on Sunday. He is continuing to recover from his injury, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said. Court records show Fowler has been arrested for burglaries at apartment complexes in Daytona Beach. He served four years' probation for the burglaries, which he completed in July 2024. Volusia County deputies said Fowler was arguing with a group at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of North Woodland Boulevard and fired a gun. The bullet, in addition to striking the teen, also shattered the rear window of the vehicle. The boy's family was also in the car, according to deputies. Deputies used video surveillance recordings from near the scene and canvassed the area. Investigators found more surveillance camera recordings of Fowler at a nearby gas station where he used his EBT card, the sheriff's office said. Fowler, who was arrested after deputies spotted him leaving his apartment complex, had a suspended driver's license and was driving a car with an incorrect tag, investigators said. Fowler said he was in Orlando the night of the shooting, but deputies showed him the video footage placing him at the gas station just before the shooting, the Facebook post said. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DeLand man arrested in shooting that injured 16-year-old boy
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This Illinois man was attacked online after scammers shopped at his store with SNAP funds stolen from Texas
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is the country's biggest food-benefit program, according to the USDA. In 2023, an average of 42.1 million people received monthly SNAP benefits. The USDA says that over 250,000 retailers across the U.S. accept SNAP benefits. However, one Illinois retailer recently got into trouble for that. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) According to a CBS News Chicago report, Alsham Supermarket and Bakery in Lombard, Illinois, was on the receiving end of bad online reviews after SNAP recipients in other states had their benefits fraudulently used there. But Ardavan Nazari, who owns the store, insists he did nothing wrong. "People, they point their fingers. They're upset and they're mad because somebody stole their information. But the one who stole the information is not us," Nazari told CBS News Chicago. Unfortunately, it's not difficult for criminals to steal people's SNAP benefits. The process is similar to stealing a credit card or debit card number. Criminals can use skimming devices and hidden cameras to capture SNAP EBT data. EBT is the electronic system that lets SNAP users pay for purchases using their benefits. Think of it as a SNAP-specific debit card. Once criminals have that data, they can replicate actual SNAP EBT cards and use whatever funds are on them to buy things for themselves. That's what happened at Nazari's Chicago-area store. When the situation became clear, customers started writing negative reviews online about Alsham Supermarket and Bakery stealing their money. Nazari was upset when he saw the accusations. "I have been here five years, working very hard on this store," he told CBS News. "We're working hard here to get good reviews, good staff, good inventory." Nazari tried contacting some of the people who wrote negative reviews about his business. "I start asking them over the phone questions like, 'Somebody stole your card? Or you give your card to someone?'" he told CBS News. "And they said, 'No, we have the card in the hand.'" Two of the people whose SNAP benefits were used at Nazari's store live in Houston. In late February, Kimberley Edwards tried to use her SNAP benefits at a local store and was told by the cashier that she only had $13 left. "It was just devastating," she told CBS News. "My main concern was, how was I going to supply food for my son?" Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs When Edwards checked to see where her balance had gone, she saw a $432 transaction for Alsham Supermarket and Bakery. "I've never been to Illinois," she said. Something similar happened to another Texas resident, Lakeda Cunningham, in April. "I went to Dollar General to purchase drinks, and when I swiped the card and put the code in, the cashier told me that it was insufficient funds," Cunningham told CBS News. "I was like, 'That's not possible because my money just posted on April 18th, six days ago." It turned out someone had used Cunningham's SNAP benefits to charge $162.11 at Alsham Supermarket and Bakery that same day. "I've never been to Illinois," Cunningham said. "Period." The USDA says that in the fourth quarter of 2024, approximately 446,000 fraudulent SNAP transactions were reported, affecting almost 144,000 households. In Illinois, SNAP fraud has been a huge issue. From October 2022 to December 2024, almost $21 million in SNAP benefits were stolen, CBS News reported, citing data from the Illinois Department of Human Services. That amounted to almost 124,000 fraudulent transactions and impacted over 38,000 households. The state urges anyone experiencing SNAP fraud to report it here. But while SNAP fraud clearly has the potential to hurt the program's beneficiaries, it can also hurt innocent retailers, including small businesses like Alsham Supermarket and Bakery. Part of the reason Nazari's store was targeted was that he carries an array of expensive and unique items — something that could attract customers and criminals equally. Jim Morley, assistant special agent-in-charge with the U.S. Secret Service in Chicago, told CBS News that stores like Nazari's tend to be popular with scammers because their inventory isn't just pricey but also hard to find elsewhere. "Oftentimes, we see a particular store getting targeted because they're selling merchandise that the criminal is able to resell," Morley explained. Nazari, meanwhile, is taking steps to prevent future SNAP fraud at his business now that he's aware of the issue. He filed a report with the Lombard police as a starting point. He also gave them video and receipt copies related to the fraud Cunningham experienced in the hopes of helping law enforcement catch the scammer. He also installed 12 security cameras. The USDA has tips for retailers to help prevent SNAP fraud. It says to inspect point-of-sale machines and PIN pads regularly for tampering or skimming devices. It also suggests using cameras to monitor checkout areas and never allowing unscheduled service visits for point-of-sale equipment. The USDA also urges retailers to train employees to spot suspicious behavior. Charging a large amount of luxury items on a SNAP EBT card could be one red flag. Finally, any retailer that thinks it has been targeted by SNAP scammers should contact local law enforcement and its point-of-sale equipment provider. It should also call the USDA Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-424-9121. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal and state funding cuts could affect local farmers' markets
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Ashley Cavender is the Equitable Nutrition and Food Access Director at Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development, or ARC&D. Cavender said that recent funding freezes and cuts to state programs, as well as proposed funding cuts to federal programs, could affect local farmers' markets and the farmers who rely on them. 'I see on a daily basis how many consumers come to spend their SNAP and benefits at farmers markets, and I see the benefit that the farmers receive in that as well,' said Cavender. 'So, it's also going to affect consumer is being able to come to the market and also it's going to affect their access to whole foods.' Fort Blackmore United Methodist Camp opening new public pool in Scott Co. Heather Shipley is the president of the Johnson City Farmers' Market. She says one of the SNAP programs being cut is the Double Up Food Bucks, which doubles the amount of produce you can buy up to $20. 'They're limited now to dollars that they do have at the farmer's market or at the grocery store, wherever they decide to get their food items,' said Shipley. 'If you're not spending that $10 with us, you're going to spend it somewhere else, you're going to look for more bang for your buck.' Cavender said last year that shoppers spent $19,000 in double-up food bucks at Northeast Tennessee farmers' markets. She also said these cuts will affect farmers who provide the produce for farmers' markets. 'All of that money that is generated just through SNAP and EBT alone is a really large number. So, their income is going to be affected, and we're also seeing where federal funding is being cut for our farmers as well. So, any of those alternative options that they could seek out are also not an option.' 'When it comes to even our programming, we're at risk of having federal funding cuts as well.' Shipley and Cavender said there are ways the public can help. 'You can actually, as an individual or a company, is sponsor the EBT program yourself, whether you make a onetime donation or you make maybe a seasonal donation,' said Shipley. 'Go to your local farmer,' said Cavender. 'The prices are honestly at this point, probably less. They've always been a little higher. But go to your local farmers markets, go to your local grocery stores and try to purchase this locally as possible, because they're going to need that now more than ever.' Cavender also said that incentive programs, such as those at farmers' markets, are at risk. One incentive program is the Farmacy Fit program, offered in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health. This grant awards tokens to those who walk a mile at the farmer's market to spend on certain products. Cavender said the Department of Health has delayed the funding cycle, meaning they will not know for sure if ARC&D will receive the grant until July. Deborah Byrd, executive director of Jonesborough Locally Grown, said they have their own private walking program, called the Farm Fresh Fit Walking Program. In a statement, Byrd says: 'We are able to continue our private walking program but don't have the funds to last all summer for the number of participants we've had, so we'll have to limit the number of participants until we have more funding.' Deborah Byrd, executive director of Jonesborough Locally Grown. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
