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- calendar_today October 30, 2026
Eight Individuals Charged in Major SNAP Fraud Case
Authorities have charged eight people in connection with an alleged scheme that stole $7 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office. The investigation revealed that thousands of people were impacted by this large-scale food assistance theft between April 2023 and September 2025, including some residents who never received the benefits that were stolen from them.
Details of the Alleged SNAP Fraud Scheme
Prosecutors allege that the eight accused individuals created merchant processing accounts using the names of both real and fictitious delicatessens. These accounts allowed them to illegally obtain Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card numbers as well as associated personal identification numbers (PINs). Once the benefits were loaded onto the EBT accounts, members of the group allegedly moved quickly to drain the funds before legitimate users had the chance to purchase food and necessities.
Modus Operandi and Use of Stolen Funds
The Manhattan district attorney’s office described how the group tracked the specific timing of benefit payments, making it possible to illicitly access funds moments after they were distributed. Officials stated that some EBT users discovered their accounts had been depleted when attempting to make legitimate purchases. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, “The defendants allegedly tracked the timing of benefit funds and drained accounts before the legitimate SNAP recipient could buy food and other necessities, eventually stealing more than $7 million.”
The operation was reportedly run out of a Yonkers deli and from various hotels. Authorities noted that the stolen funds were used for luxury purchases, including high-end vehicles, and that money was transferred internationally, with some funds sent to Yemen.
Impact on Public Benefits Recipients
Commissioner Nadia Shihata of the Department of Investigation commented on the broader harm caused by the alleged snap benefit fraud, stating, “These alleged crimes not only resulted in the pilfering of public funds from a critical City-administered food program, but also left vulnerable New Yorkers without essential benefits to purchase groceries.”
Suspects and Legal Proceedings
While eight people were charged in connection with the snap fraud scheme, prosecutors publicly identified five of the accused: Belal Hauter, 34; Gregory Fabiani, 46; Abdulla Aezah, 35; Milton Rios, 53; and Yvette Rivera, 58. According to the district attorney’s office, three of these individuals were arrested in New York City, while the remaining three have not yet been apprehended. The charges brought against the group include conspiracy, grand larceny, and identity theft.
Attorney information for the arrested individuals was not immediately available, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Ongoing Fraud Investigation
This case represents one of the larger recent public benefits fraud investigations in the region. Officials continue to emphasize the seriousness of ebt fraud and other forms of public benefits theft, underscoring the impact such crimes have on vulnerable residents who rely on programs like SNAP for everyday necessities.
Source: gothamist.com.
