Suspected food stamp fraud leads to three arrests

EVERETT — Federal investigators joined local police Thursday in raiding two Snohomish County stores, arresting the owners for alleged food stamp fraud.

Everett police and Marysville police served separate search warrants alongside special agents with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General, officials said.

The cases were coincidental but unrelated, Everett Police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.

An Everett store owner was arrested Thursday after a four-month investigation into food stamp trafficking and fraudulent transactions at the store, Goetz said.

It began when a man told Everett police someone had switched his Electronic Benefits Transfer card with another card. EBT cards are used like debit cards to purchase food.

The man’s card was then used at Pecks Drive Market at 801 Pecks Drive in Everett. The man told police the market was known for giving customers cash on the dollar in exchange for EBT funds, Goetz said.

Since the tip, undercover officers have made illegal EBT transactions at the Everett store, Goetz said.

The special agents found that EBT transactions at the store allegedly mushroomed over the past year. More than $50,000 in transactions was reported there in December. Police estimate the store had more than $306,000 in EBT transactions annually.

Everett police served a search warrant Thursday at the market, Goetz said.

A Lynnwood man, 54, was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of money laundering, trafficking in food stamps and unlawful redemption of food stamps.

Marysville police arrested two people in connection with their case Thursday morning, Cmdr. Robb Lamoureux said.

They searched a mini-mart in the 1000 block of State Avenue and arrested its owner, 50, of Marysville.

The man was booked into Snohomish County Jail for investigation of trafficking in food stamps and money laundering.

The man had been licensed to conduct food stamp transactions in his store, but his license had been revoked in 2006, Lamoureux said.

The man reportedly was buying EBT cards from people for half of the balance left on the cards. He then used the EBT money to buy goods he could sell in his store, Lamoureux said.

Marysville detectives seized $14,000 cash, various documents and illegal synthetic marijuana from the store. Illegal cigarettes also were found.

An Everett man, 49, also was arrested in connection with the case, Lamoureux said.

Both cases remain under investigation. Everett police urge anyone with information about their case to call 425-257–8450.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com