Mar 21, 2024

Grocery Store SNAP Defense Lawyers

SNAP Benefits Compliance Requirements

When a grocery store or other type of business accept SNAP benefits for payment; there are certain laws they must follow. Even innocent mistakes could result in the business being given civil fines, Permanent Disqualification and in some cases subject to criminal charges. A business owner is always going to be held responsible whenever food stamp trafficking occurs in their establishment.

Compliance

Prior to accepting SNAP benefits; a business should have a compliance plan in place. The owner needs to realize failing to follow this plan could result in them losing their store and potentially facing criminal charges.

Employee Training Requirements

It’s important for every business to properly train their employees, so they know how to avoid committing any type of snap violation. It’s also important to have documentation and proof that the training occurred.

Having an employee sign a form about receiving this type of training, and prior to working as a cashier, is also important. Any person, who is a cashier at a business involved with the snap program, must know the USDA’s rules completely, prior to being permitted to handle any type of EBT transactions.

Civil Money Penalty Under Federal Regulations

This is a fine. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) is given authority to issue such fines under the Code of Federal Regulation. It also enables the USDA to enforce laws associated with any business involved in food stamp trafficking.

Determining Civil Fine Amounts

The amount of the fine issued by the USDA will be determined by the amount of revenue a store receives in EBT transactions. It will also be influenced by any other snap violation alleged against a business.

Should a business have appropriate compliance programs in place; it might preserve its future EBT income. This USDA can only issue civil fines and not any type of disqualification.

Temporary Disqualification Penalties

This is something that can last from six months up to five years. It can be damaging to a business depending on their level of income from EBT transactions.

The length of time will be determined by violations of the Code of Federal Regulations. The evidence the USDA has against a business and the number of snap violations it has committed, will influence the length of time for a temporary disqualification.

Permanent Disqualification Consequences

This is the most harmful punishment for a business. Many grocery stores and others depend on EBT for a large portion of their revenue. The loss of this income has caused some grocery stores and other retailers to go out of business.

USDA Authority Under 7 CFR § 278.6

The Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA has been given authority under Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR § 278.6) to disqualify any retail food business or wholesale food operation from participating in EBT Transactions.

This will be based on the inability of the business to maintain compliance with the Food Stamp Act of 1977. This could result if there are employees at the business who are found guilty of EBT trafficking.

Types of Trafficking Violations

This could be selling, buying as well as stealing, and in any way exchanging snap benefits for items or cash. A store permitting the purchase of ineligible items like:

• Vaporizers and alcohol
• LED grow lights
• And has previously been sanctioned for doing it could get a permanent disqualification

A business intentionally providing false information on their application for the snap program could also get this type of disqualification.

SNAP Trafficking Charge Letter

These are letters from the USDA. They are sent when the USDA’s computer system issues an alert. This often happens when numerous large transactions are detected.

Transaction Triggers and Alerts

These are often a number of transaction valued at $25 or more. A business can expect for every transaction over $40 to trigger this type of alert.

An alert could be triggered by transactions with the same cents value. A common example is when it ends in zero cents. The letter won’t be sent until a store reaches the limit.

This is approximately 100 transactions during a period of three months. When the USDA detects too many transactions within a 36 hours time frame, a letter will be generated. These are usually transactions done within a few minutes of one another.

Administrative Resolution Options

In some cases, the accusations brought of a business by the USDA can be resolved administratively. When this happens, there will be no criminal charges. In this situation, there will not be any serious penalties involved. A business owner could be permitted to pay restitution and have the case closed.

Criminal Prosecution for SNAP Violations

A business owner will have a serious problem if their case is recommended to the District Attorney’s Office. When this happens, a business owner could be arrested and charged with various different felonies.

Potential Criminal Charges

This could include everything from:

• Filing of a False Business Document
• Grand Larceny
• Welfare fraud and more

The reality of this situation is a business will have to face a potential trial. They could have their case tried and be acquitted. If a business owner if found guilty, they will have a permanent felony conviction on their record.

Sentencing Factors

It’s possible they could even be incarcerated. Many factors will influence the punishment after a conviction. This will be based on:

• A business owner’s criminal history
• Their cooperation during the investigation
• Amount of fraud and more

Plea Agreement Negotiations

A business owner may be able to avoid having a felony conviction on their record, or spending time in jail with a plea agreement. This can happen when the business owner is represented by an attorney experienced in negotiating plea agreements in these types of situations.

Alternative Charges

In some situations, an attorney may be able to help their client avoid having a felony conviction. This is a good option in many cases because there are lesser penalties with this type of fraud. Business owners have been able to plead down to other lesser charges such as disorderly conduct and more.

Legal Consultation Importance

If someone has been accused of snap fraud, they should contact a New York attorney for an immediate consultation. This type of public benefits fraud is one of the most commonly investigated.

The Human Resources Administration in New York is spending a significant amount of money on these cases when compared to other types of public benefits fraud. Once an experienced attorney has been able to review the facts of a case, they will know how best to proceed.

Grocery Store SNAP Defense Lawyers