Two Massachusetts store owners charged in alleged $7 million SNAP fraud scheme
FILE-A sign at a supermarket entrance with text that says We Welcome EBT customers and a SNAP logo in Lafayette, California, November 13, 2025. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Two store owners were arrested in an alleged $7 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits scheme, according to federal prosecutors in Boston.
Antonio Bonheur, 74, and Saul Alisme, 21, were each charged with one count of food stamp fraud. Bonheur owned the Jesula Variety Store and Alisme owned Saul Mache Mixe Store in a Boston neighborhood.
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What happened in the SNAP fraud scheme?
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The stores allegedly had substantially high SNAP redemption rates, exceeding what was considered as legitimate food sales, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts.
One store's monthly SNAP redemptions surpassed $100,000 and, at times, even $500,000. The release noted that by comparison, a full-service supermarket in Boston usually makes $82,000 per month in SNAP benefits.
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Police went undercover and determined that Antonio Bonheur and Saul Alisme exchanged SNAP benefits for cash and both of their stores were allegedly spotted selling liquor to patrons in exchange for SNAP benefits.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts noted that the charge of food stamp fraud over $100 carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to 40 million low-income individuals, which means almost 1 in 8 people receive the benefit each month. The money comes on prepaid cards that recipients can use for groceries.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.