Justice Department reports nearly $42 million in SNAP fraud in nationwide surge

On October 21, 2026, the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the USDA Office of Inspector General announced the results of the Department’s first National USDA Benefits and Program Fraud Enforcement Surge, conducted between September 1 and October 21 with 13 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Utah Attorney General’s Office. ¹ Source 1

The release says the surge resulted in actions against more than 40 defendants whose alleged or proven schemes caused nearly $45 million in intended losses to the federal government, and that nearly $42 million of that amount involved fraud against SNAP benefits. Another case involved attempted fraud against a USDA crop-insurance program. ¹ Source 1

The largest case listed is an indictment in the Southern District of Ohio, United States v. Jorag Yaseen and Rami Kanaan, No. 3:26-cr-00099-TMR. The indictment alleges that the defendants operated approved retail food stores in Chicago and, between about February 2024 and April 2025, processed thousands of transactions using stolen Ohio and other state EBT account information with no bona fide sales, for an estimated loss of about $29.7 million. They are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. ¹ Source 1

Other listed cases include an indictment in the Northern District of Georgia with a stated $4.4 million intended loss, guilty pleas and sentencings in Oregon and Michigan, and charges in Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Utah. The release says schemes included skimming devices, stolen identities, fraudulent applications, and stores trading cash for benefits. It states that an indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. ¹ Source 1