The phrase “put on your big boy pants” most commonly means that it is time to grow up and act like a responsible adult. An article published in The Buffalo News tells about two brothers who acted irresponsibly as the operators of their family-owned food market. Together, the two grocers stole nearly $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through illegal transactions over a one-year time period.
The story states that the food market was previously owned by the two brothers’ parents. Due to a fire, the store closed for a few months, but reopened under the youngest brother’s proprietorship and was soon eligible to accept food stamps. (The brothers changed the name to Big Boys Food Market and, according to the U.S. Attorney continued to orchestrate a well-organized food stamp trafficking scheme previously run by his parents.)
After receiving a hotline tip that the food market operators were illegally exchanging food stamp benefits for cash and ineligible items such as cigarettes, diapers and beer, the USDA sent undercover witnesses to conduct transactions at the store. Investigators determined that the illegal transactions occurred in several different forms. There were repeated instances of witnesses obtaining cash in exchange for SNAP benefits. Some were also instructed to purchase stock from other grocery stores. (One witness was required to buy $180 in chicken wings before receiving $90 in cash. I guess they thought they could hide the fraud behind the Buffalo wings.)
Ultimately, the government’s electronic transfer records showed that the food market conducted approximately $671,000 in food stamp transactions during the time in question. Of that amount, it was determined that the 28-year-old and 31-year-old brothers illegally collected nearly $300,000 in SNAP benefits. They both pleaded guilty to the unauthorized use of food stamp benefits. After a plea agreement, they are facing between 15 and 27 months in prison, maximum fines of $50,000 each plus mandatory restitution for the total amount of SNAP funds misappropriated.
According to the article, the situation is not new to the family. Apparently, the father was previously convicted for the unauthorized use of food stamps after being investigated on two separate occasions.
It’s time for these two young men to put on their big boy pants and make amends for their illegal actions. Perhaps while serving out their time in prison, these brothers will learn how to act like responsible adults.
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