waterbury federal agent help informant go undercover nearly two years document food stamp fraud occur inner-city market whose employees bust recent weeks.though w.b trade fair supermarket small corner market willow street dusty can one regularly use register federal authorities estimate redeem almost 5.7 million food stamp since 2011.but benefit use provide nutritional food city residents rather swap cash glass smoke pip even power tool federal authorities allege.a recently unseal federal search warrant store show undercover agent office inspector general suspect store traffic exchange large amount benefit cash.tallat mahmood 63 raul carlos monarca 40 tahir shahzad 32 harrison n.y. charge federal food stamp fraud illegally traffic food stamp benefits.the food stamp program aim give low-income residents ability purchase nutritious foods use type debit card call ebt people enrol program bar buy booze cigarettes paper goods soap among items market well stock everything rice sugar doorknobs scent candles.but authorities say trio allow customers illegally swap federal food stamp know supplemental nutrition assistance program snap benefit cigarettes bong hookahs glass smoke pip display case front store.when ebt card run special terminal total amount items inputted store deduct person snap account occur inputted amount transfer store bank account.federal authorities allege men exploit transfer give customers meager portion snap benefit cash rest go store bank account store employees suppose ensure items purchase eligible benefit run person ebt card.the store open early 2011 march year owners apply accept snap benefit federal authorities allege store redeem 6,532 snap benefit april 2011 march year one-month tally grow 179,000 accord federal documents.the agent along informant visit store 19 time start 2014 pay 7,381 snap benefit exchange 2,905 cash number eligible ineligible items soda chip glass pip bong hookahs hardware instance april agent give 200 cash two glass smoke pip electric circular saw cigarettes exchange 583 snap benefits.only weeks late federal snap employee visit store guise inspect talk snap rule regulations.shahzad indicate know exchange cash snap benefit prohibit mahmood state benefit buy food lottery weeks late another visit undercover agent employee store give 200 cash 540 benefits.though authorities suspect store redeem million federal benefit store employees charge fraud base roughly 18-month span start 2014 store take 3.2 million benefit practice result illegal profit traffickers misuse government fund intend provide food needy families creation market steal fraudulently obtain snap benefit agent write allege traffickers accord federal search warrant store.the store accept cash payment accord sign door.mahmood shahzad free post bond order surrender passports monarca release jail convict face maximum five years prison.the principal member store list aijaz ahmed accord state business record charge crime.via rep-am check name food stamp fraud 5.7 million one store