Tennessee Men Accused of Running $4,000 Heroin, Food Stamp Fraud Scheme

Tennessee Men Accused of Running $4,000 Heroin, Food Stamp Fraud Scheme

http://media.breitbart.com/media/201...er-640x480.jpgKnox County Detention Facility

by KATHERINE RODRIGUEZ13 Feb 20184
Two Tennessee men have been accused of running a food stamp fraud scheme in which they traded food stamp benefits for cash and heroin.

Authorities arrested Joseph George Faddoul, 32, and James Allan Hampton Jr., 52, after they allegedly purchased electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards from undercover officers December 21, 2017, and January 18, 2018, and traded those benefits for cash and heroin, Knox News reported.

The duo allegedly operated the store Volunteer Meat and Seafood and withdrew a total of $4,268 in funds from the EBT cards using a mobile card reader.

Authorities arrested Hampton Jr. Tuesday during a Knox County Sheriff’s Department raid of his home in the Timberlake subdivision.

Hampton Jr.’s arrest then led sheriffs to Faddoul, whom authorities found intoxicated Saturday night at a North Knoxville restaurant, according to arrest warrants.

Faddoul allegedly used a fake name when officers questioned him, but authorities later identified him as the second man tied to the scheme.

He faces ten counts of food stamp fraud, one count of felony theft, six counts of identity theft, and one count of sale and delivery of Schedule I drugs. Faddoul, who is being held in jail on $61,500 bond, also faces additional charges of public intoxication and criminal impersonation.

Hampton faces charges of food stamp fraud, felony theft, and identity theft. He is being held in jail on $56,000 bond for 22 felony warrants.

Both men are due in court for a preliminary hearing Friday.

Although these men have been charged but not convicted of food stamp fraud, those who have been convicted of the crime suffer serious consequences.

Last month, a judge sentenced a Baltimore man to 27 months in federal prison for carrying out $1.5 million worth of food stamp fraud. On Friday, a judge sentenced an Oregon minimart owner to two years behind bars for carrying out $186,000 worth of food stamp fraud.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...-fraud-scheme/

Second suspect nabbed in heroin, food stamp fraud scheme

Hayes Hickman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee
Published 10:10 a.m. ET Feb. 12, 2018

KCSO is raiding a North Knox home in connection with a heroin/food stamp card fraud scheme.Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel


https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/b14...82539DEEC2.jpg
(Photo: Knox County Detention Facility)A second suspect has been charged in connection with a fraud scheme involving the purchase of food stamp cards in exchange for cash and heroin, according to court records.

Joseph George Faddoul, 32, of Clinton, was arrested Saturday when authorities found him intoxicated at a North Knoxville restaurant, arrest warrants state.

Faddoul allegedly gave officers a false name, but later was identified as the second man wanted in connection with the fraud scheme.

His alleged partner, 52-year-old James Allan Hampton Jr., was captured Tuesday during a Knox County Sheriff's Office raid at his North Knox County home in the Timberlake subdivision.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/bc5...C86F602435.jpg
James Allan Hampton (Photo: Knox County Detention Facility)

Hampton and Faddoul bought food stamp cards from undercover officers on multiple occasions between Dec. 21, 017 and Jan. 18, 2018 in exchange for cash and, in at least one instance, heroin, according to warrants.

Operating as the bogus Volunteer Meat and Seafood, the two used a mobile card reader to withdraw funds totaling $4,268, the warrants state.

It is the latest in a series of KCSO sting operationstargeting businesses that authorities say perpetuate crime and drug addiction.

Faddoul remained jailed Monday in lieu of $61,500 total bond. He faces 10 counts of food stamp fraud, six counts of identity theft, one count of felony theft and one count of sale and delivery of Schedule I drugs, as well as criminal impersonation and public intoxication.

Hampton was be held Monday in lieu of $56,000 bond on 22 felony warrants, including charges of food stamp fraud, identity theft and felony theft.

Both men are set to appear at a preliminary hearing Friday.
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/...eme/328526002/

Well, I can see why Trump wants to move to boxed food, although I don't think that's the right solution. How about food-stamp only grocery stores, where they can go and select their food and pay for it with their EBT card? Those stores would be the only ones where the card would work and the store would only sell to those with the card. We have a free food bank store in our town. It's run by some not-for-profit and anyone can go there. I've never been there but someone I know told me about it and they go there from time to time because they run short pretty often and need some help.

I still think the best solution is to stay on the Trump Agenda, fix our bad trade deals, bring our good jobs back, reduce immigration, raise wages and put the people back to work at jobs they can live on.

A lot of food stamp fraud. No more loaded up EBT cards.

They think they are credit cards.

Go back to Food Banks, get in line and get healthy food.

These leeches need some "humility" it will go a long way.

Get a job and off the government dole. Not just wait for your loaded up credit card every month.

I am all for giving these breeders a VOUCHER for a vasectomy or tubal ligation and end the breed and feed programs.

Taxpayers are sick of paying for your romp in the sack and your mouths to feed, it's disgusting!

Tell the 501 C 3 "charities" who collect $1.4 trillion a year in tax exempt income, feed the hungry, house the homeless and heal the sick for free or pay taxes. You should not be able to do anything in this country tax exempt under a "charity" status except those 3 actions.