Latest news with #OhioInvestigativeUnit
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Charges filed in skimmer SNAP thefts
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Hundreds of Ohioans are one step closer to justice; the Ohio Investigative Unit has indicted three people accused of using credit card skimmers to steal more than half a million dollars from some of our most vulnerable neighbors and, ultimately, taxpayers. NBC4 Investigates has been reporting on stolen SNAP benefits, which used to be known as food stamps. The suspects are accused of stealing more than half a million dollars of Ohio SNAP funds, but that's just in Ohio. Investigators tracked these three individuals across the United States, where they are accused of using skimmers to steal funds from SNAP recipients and from every taxpayer. Unsolved Ohio: Who killed Amy Jo Nelson? Family wants answers in 2017 homicide 'It was embarrassing, disappointing, I did not understand what was going on at first,' Shadawna Collier, who had her SNAP benefits stolen, said. NBC4 Investigates asked a social worker who helped raise the alarm about this development after nearly a year of investigation by the Ohio Investigative Unit into the use of card skimmers, which resulted in the theft of at least $600,000 in SNAP benefits across Ohio. 'I love it,' licensed social worker Lakisa Dukes said. 'I love it because I felt like so many people had been affected by this and no one was listening.' Dukes heard from many clients who were targets of SNAP fraud. 'This is literally families who, that is all they have for food,' Dukes said. After faculty overwhelmingly voted to unionize, Ohio University is suing them again NBC4 Investigates found that in Ohio last year, nearly 27,000 people reported their SNAP benefits stolen: almost $14 million of taxpayer money, gone. The suspects arrested now are allegedly responsible for part of that amount. 'It's relieving,' Collier said. 'I know a lot of people rely on the food stamps.' 'Our suspects in this case victimize some of the poorest people that we have, you know, across the country, because they use SNAP benefits from all over the country,' Ohio Investigative Unit Agent in Charge Sam Love said. Investigators tracked the suspects across the United States and found dozens of fraudulent cards filled with stolen funds. 'They're very transient, they travel all over,' Love said. 'They went all over the country.' Ohio House Minority Leader stepping down from leadership position A release from OIU said: 'A search warrant executed on their vehicle led to the seizure of more than $62,600 in cash, several gold coins, various pieces of gold jewelry, four cell phones, suspected cloned credit cards, and records.' When investigators arrested the suspects, they allegedly found machines used to copy stolen card information and skimmers. 'The ones they are putting on now are pretty small,' Love said. 'They can slip right onto the terminal and it takes a good bit of effort for us to pull them off.' The thefts are being reported across the United States. Most states, including Ohio, use SNAP cards that swipe, making them easy targets. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says adding a chip feature to the SNAP cards could stop about 85% of the thefts. Woman charged in the murder of 8-year-old Columbus boy found in attic reaches plea agreement 'We know there's more going on,' Love said. 'So the work continues, but it's just, you know, on to the next case.' Some states have moved to add chip technology to SNAP cards. Ohio has tried, but the bill in the statehouse has not moved forward. The last time we told you about this issue was because the federal government had stopped reimbursing people whose benefits were stolen. Investigators share that this was an added push for them to get these indictments against the suspects, and the investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Police drug bust in Xenia seizes guns, pot, shrooms, and 10,000 pills
Mar. 10—Police officers seized more than 10,000 controlled anxiety pills, large amounts of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, plus multiple guns as part of a drug bust in Xenia, law enforcement announced Monday. Agents with the Greene County Agencies for Combined Enforcement, Xenia Police Division, and the Ohio Investigative Unit executed a search warrant Feb. 26 at a Xenia address that law enforcement did not disclose. The search warrant stemmed from a long-term drug trafficking investigation initiated by the Ohio Investigations Unit in 2024, according to a statement from OIU. Police seized "a large amount of evidence indicative of drug trafficking," according to the Monday statement, including three pistols, a .22 caliber rifle, an AK-47-style rifle with a drum magazine, and ammunition. Police also seized approximately 10,000 suspected 2 mg Xanax pills, multiple pounds of suspected marijuana, and approximately a pound of suspected psilocybin mushrooms. The target of the investigation, Dayne Perez-Green, was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail on several charges, including weapons under disability, felony trafficking in drugs, and felony possession of drugs. Perez-Green, 26, had previously been convicted of both having weapons under disability and drug possession in 2019. Law enforcement anticipates that the target will face several additional felony charges, police said in a statement.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Several firearms, drugs found during drug trafficking investigation in Greene County
Several firearms, thousands of pills and multiple pounds of drugs were seized in a drug trafficking bust in Xenia last month, according to a spokesperson from the Ohio Investigative Unit. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Greene County Agencies for Combined Enforcement (ACE), Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) and the Xenia Police Division searched an address in Xenia on Feb. 26. TRENDING STORIES: Traffic stop leads to ICE arrests in Logan County Dozens of cars catch fire at Ohio business Invasive pest detected in Ohio; Quarantine starts today for several counties The spokesperson said the warrant stemmed from a 'long-term drug trafficking investigation,' that began in 2024. Agents found a 'large amount' of evidence, including: Three pistols A .22 caliber rifle An AK-47-style rifle with a drum magazine Various ammunition Approximately 10,000 suspected Xanax (2mg) pills Multiple pounds of suspected marijuana About a pound of suspected psilocybin mushrooms The evidence has been submitted to a crime lab for further testing, according to the spokesperson. The 'target' of the investigation was arrested and booked into Greene County jail on weapons under disability, felony trafficking in drugs, and felony possession of drugs charges. News Center 7 is working to learn this person's identity. The agents believe that the suspect will face several additional felony charges. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
