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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Trio in Ohio Stole $600K in SNAP Benefits to Buy Junk Food: Officials
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Three people in Ohio are accused of stealing $600,000 worth of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase candy and energy drinks, according to local officials. Newsweek has contacted the Ohio Department of Public Safety via email for comment. Why It Matters SNAP benefits provide food benefits to low-income families and is a common target for fraud. SNAP benefits are administered to recipients through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which are loaded with money each month to use in participating stores across the country. Like regular debit or credit cards, they are subject to scams such as cloning, phishing or skimming. During the first quarter of 2025, nearly 18,500 households in Ohio reported SNAP benefit theft totaling almost $18.5 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). What To Know After a year-long investigation, Columbus residents Ionut Bizga, 33, Doina Bacelan, 32, and Juan Hernandez, 26, have each been indicted for a "pattern of corrupt activity and food stamp fraud," according to a spokesperson with the Ohio Department of Public Safety, speaking to local news station WHIO-TV. The investigation started in August 2024 when the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) got a tip about stolen SNAP benefits being used for fake EBT transactions at Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale stores in Columbus. Agents linked the suspects to the fraudulent EBT purchases by using several surveillance techniques and store video. The suspects allegedly bought large amounts of candy and energy drinks with the stolen benefits, with around $3,000 worth of goods bought each visit. The candy and beverages were stored in various Columbus storage units before being transported out of state in box trucks, often ending up with local distributors. Investigators also found card skimmers, cloned gift and credit cards, laptops and cell phones that are linked to the case. Lawmakers in Ohio are working to combat the pervasive SNAP benefit theft issue. Ohio Representatives Kellie Deeter, Tristan Rader, and Desiree Tims have introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen protections for SNAP recipients. House Bill 163, the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2025, co-sponsored by Rader and Deeter, proposes replacing current EBT cards with chip-enabled versions, launching a pilot program in high-risk areas, educating recipients on fraud prevention, and working with retailers to enhance transaction security. Meanwhile, House Bill 174, the No Hungry Families Act, co-sponsored by Rader and Tims, seeks to establish a state-run reimbursement program for SNAP recipients whose benefits are stolen. The bill would allocate state funds to help families recover lost food assistance and directly address common fraud tactics like card skimming and cloning. Stock image/file photo: Police lights on law enforcement vehicles. Stock image/file photo: Police lights on law enforcement vehicles. GETTY What People Are Saying Ohio Representative Tristan Rader said on LinkedIn regarding overall SNAP benefit theft in Ohio earlier this year: "Tens of thousands of Ohio families have had their SNAP benefits stolen, leaving them without food and putting more pressure on food banks. I am working to stop this fraud and make sure help gets to those who need it— because no one should go hungry due to a broken system." What Happens Next? The Ohio Department of Public Safety is working to identify additional suspects in the case.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
3 accused of using $600K in stolen SNAP benefits to buy bulk amounts of candy, energy drinks in Ohio
Three people are facing charges after a nearly year-long investigation into the use of card skimmers to steal $600,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits across Ohio, according to a spokesperson with the Ohio Department of Public Safety. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Columbus residents Ionut Bizga, 33, Doina Bacelan, 32, and Juan Hernandez, 26, were each indicted in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in May for a 'pattern of corrupt activity and food stamp fraud.' TRENDING STORIES: Person rescued after reportedly falling off cliff while running from deputies, sergeant says 9-year-old girl seriously injured after being hit by a car in Dayton Police investigating after man shot in the arm in Dayton The investigation began in August 2024 after the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) received a complaint that stolen SNAP benefits were being used for fraudulent Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) transactions at Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale stores in Columbus, the spokesperson said. The OIU conducted surveillance at these shops and identified three suspects who appeared to be using stolen benefits to buy merchandise. In October, investigators tracked the suspects to an apartment at The Gardens in Columbus, according to the spokesperson. Agents linked the suspects to the fraudulent EBT purchases by using several surveillance techniques and store video. These purchases totaled at least $600,000. According to the spokesperson, the suspects allegedly bought bulk amounts of candy and energy drinks with the stolen benefits, which totaled around $3,000 each visit. The candy and drinks were kept in storage units across Columbus and then shipped out of state in box trucks. They were often sold to a local distributor. The spokesperson said investigators saw the three suspects and several other unidentified individuals installing credit card skimmers at stores in Ohio and Kentucky. The OIU worked with the Ohio State Highway Patrol St. Clairsville Post to conduct a felony traffic stop of Bizga's car on Interstate 70 on May 14, 2025. Bizga and Bacelan were inside the car and arrested for outstanding warrants from Franklin County, the spokesperson said. OIU agents interviewed the suspects with the help of a U.S. Secret Service translator. After obtaining a search warrant for the car, investigators found over $62,000 in cash, several gold coins, gold jewelry, four cell phones, suspected cloned credit cards and records inside. On May 15, agents executed search warrants at five storage units, three cars and one house throughout Franklin County. The following items were seized at the listed locations: 32 cases of energy drinks at Public Storage on Morse Road 232 cases of energy drinks and 205 cases of candy at A+ Storage on East Livingston Avenue 125 cases of candy and seven cases of energy drinks inside a Kia Sedona Two laptops, six credit card skimmers, a credit card terminal, and 18 suspected cloned gift cards inside a Volkswagen Jetta Various records and criminal tools inside a Honda Odyssey Two laptops, two cell phones, 36 suspected cloned gift or credit cards, and a magnetic card reader/writer to create cloned EBT inside a home in the 3500 block of McCallum Club The spokesperson said they are working to identify additional suspects who have pending charges. EBT recipients are encouraged to keep their benefits safe by keeping all card numbers and PINs private, using the ConnectEBT app, and reporting any suspicious transactions to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SNAP scam enterprise busted in Ohio
(WKBN) — WKBN 27 First News has been reporting on the uptick in SNAP/EBT scams and stolen benefits originating from places all across the country. Now, an alleged enterprise in Ohio has been busted. A year-long investigation in the Columbus area ended in indictments against Ionut Bizga, 33, Doina Bacelan, 32, and Juan Hernandez, 26. Each was indicted for a pattern of corrupt activity and food stamp fraud. Arraignments are set for today. The fraud included the use of card skimmers, among other tools, to steal benefits, money and merchandise from SNAP recipients across Ohio, totalling at least $600,000, according to investigators. The trio was seen going into various businesses such as Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale and other businesses where they spent hundreds of dollars in stolen benefits for energy drinks and candy, sometimes spending $3,000 in one visit, according to investigators, and then storing the items in storage units around Columbus. The items were then shipped out of state in box trucks and, on several occasions, sold to a local distributor. These suspects and several unidentified individuals were also observed installing credit card skimmers at stores in Ohio and Kentucky. A traffic stop on May 14 ended in the arrest of Bizga and Bacelan. A translator was used by U.S. Secret Service during their arrest. A search of the vehicle uncovered $62,600 in cash, several cold coins, gold jewelry, cell phones and suspected cloned credit cards. Investigators also searched the storage units connected to the suspects and found hundreds of cases of energy drinks and candy, among other items. Additional charges for multiple individuals are pending the identification of other suspects. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
