Knox County Sheriff's Office arrests owner of Mexican restaurant on food-stamp fraud charges

The Knox County Sheriff's Office raided yet another local business on Wednesday and arrested its owner on charges of maximizing profits by working with thieving drug addicts who sought to fuel their dependencies.

Jorge "George" Lua, the 57-year-old owner of Taco De Mexico at 818 Beaumont Ave., is accused of buying food stamp cards for 50 cents on the dollar, then using those cards to purchase food for his restaurant.

Lua also sold drinks at construction sites through a truck. He made a list of drinks he wanted to buy, "and that list was given to an undercover agent to steal for him," said KCSO Assistant Chief Lee Tramel.

Lua faces a slew of charges including theft, identity theft, EBT card fraud and computer crimes associated with EBT cards.

Read more: http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2017/11/15/knox-county-sheriffs-office-arrests-owner-mexican-restaurant-food-stamp-fraud-charges/867898001/