Feds: Food stamps bought butts, bongs and hookahs

There are some things you can’t buy with food stamps, like alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, paper goods and soaps.

Glass pipes, bongs, hookahs and selling food stamps for cash are also on the list.

Federal officials say from November 2014 until this June, three workers at a Waterbury food store ran a multi-million scheme in food stamp fraud and illegally trafficking in food stamp benefits.

But, there was a red flag that got federal officials’ attention.

It was: Given the stock of eligible food items at the store, the number of registers, and the customer amenities, it is estimated that WB Trade Fair Grocery could lawfully redeem - at most - between $120,000 to $240,000 per year in food stamp benefits. However, during this approximately 18-month period, food stamp redemptions at the store totaled approximately $3.2 million, U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly said in a release.

Read more: http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Feds-Food-stamps-bought-butts-bongs-and-hookahs-9186005.php