EXPOSED: O’Keefe Uncovers California Smoke Shops Selling Banned Kratom, With Clerks Attempting to Process Purchases Using Government-Funded EBT Benefits as “Groceries” or EBT Cash The clerk in San Diego stated, “They banned it for good. So tomorrow is the last day. You have to remove every single piece [of kratom]. If they got you with this [kratom], it’s a felony. That’s a big-time felony.” At a Los Angeles store, an undercover journalist asked, “You ran it as groceries right?” The clerk nodded yes, confirming the attempted purchase was categorized as an EBT grocery transaction. At another LA smoke shop, a clerk asked, “Can $7 be EBT cash?” before another clerk responded, “Yeah, I think so. EBT cash.” O’Keefe…
Vice President JD Vance is pushing Republican lawmakers to write the White House Anti-Fraud Task Force's gains into permanent law, warning that without legislation, a future Democratic president could dismantle everything the task force has built. Vance convened a roundtable Wednesday in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with Republican senators, […] The post Vance presses Congress to lock in anti-fraud protections before a future administration can erase them appeared first on American Almanac .
Vice President JD Vance is pushing Republican lawmakers to write the White House Anti-Fraud Task Force's gains into permanent law, warning that without legislation, a future Democratic president could dismantle everything the task force has built. Vance convened a roundtable Wednesday in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with Republican senators, representatives, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. The message was blunt: executive action alone cannot protect $56 billion in halted fraudulent payments or prevent the next administration from reopening the spigot. Congress needs to act before the window closes. The vice president framed the task force's work as substantial but structurally…Open
The Trump administration has initiated a welfare fraud crackdown in Ohio, implicating almost 20 retailers in the state.
A recent bust of retailers in Ohio underscores the Trump administration’s intensifying nationwide crusade against waste, fraud , and abuse . PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has initiated a welfare fraud crackdown in Ohio, implicating almost 20 retailers in the state. DETAIL: A crackdown targeting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud in the state of Ohio has implicated 19 retailers. The retailers stand accused of illegally exchanging benefits for cash, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other prohibited items. The bust was conducted by state officials in co-operation with the federal government and follows the introduction of HB 163, a state law introducing chip-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)…Open
A Minnesota House committee report alleges that Governor Tim Walz (D) fostered a "culture of tolerance" for fraud that enabled widespread abuse, costing taxpayers billions, and drew criticism for ignoring whistleblower warnings and oversight failures.
A Minnesota House committee report alleges that Governor Tim Walz (D) fostered a “culture of tolerance” for fraud that enabled widespread abuse, costing taxpayers billions, and drew criticism for ignoring whistleblower warnings and oversight failures. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: A final report from the Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee accuses Governor Tim Walz (D) of enabling widespread fraud , costing taxpayers billions. The report highlights failures in oversight and alleges that whistleblower warnings were ignored, leading to unprecedented levels of fraud across federal and state programs. DETAIL: The 84-page report estimates $300 million lost to federal meal program fraud and up to $9 billion…Open
A coordinated federal crackdown in Massachusetts has resulted in charges against nine individuals for social welfare benefit fraud schemes exploiting stolen identities. The schemes targeted taxpayer-funded programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth, and Social Security benefits. The investigation, ongoing since December 2025, uncovered nearly $9 million in fraudulent activity. The post Trump Admin Charges Nine in $1.1 Million Massachusetts Benefit Fraud Scheme. appeared first on The National Pulse .
PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: Nine individuals were charged in a federal crackdown on benefit fraud schemes exploiting stolen identities to steal from taxpayer-funded programs. WHO WAS INVOLVED: The defendants include both U.S. citizens and illegal aliens, with charges involving multiple federal and state agencies. WHEN & WHERE: The charges were made over nine weeks in Massachusetts, and investigations into the fraud began in December 2025. KEY QUOTE: “The accused allegedly used stolen identities belonging to U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico to steal more than $1.1 million in taxpayer-funded programs.” – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) IMPACT: The alleged fraud led to nearly $9 million in uncovered benefit fraud and…Open
PULSE POINTSWHAT HAPPENED: A Haitian man pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $6.7 million benefit fraud scheme through his Boston retail store.WHO WAS INVOLVED: Antonio Bonheur, 74, and a second defendant, Saul Alsime.WHEN & WHERE: The scheme ran from February 2021 to December 2025 in Mattapan, Boston.IMPACT: Bonheur faces up to 20 years imprisonment, potential deportation, […] The post Haitian Man Admits to $6.7 Million SNAP Fraud Scheme. appeared first on The National Pulse .
PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: A Haitian man pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $6.7 million benefit fraud scheme through his Boston retail store. WHO WAS INVOLVED: Antonio Bonheur, 74, and a second defendant, Saul Alsime. WHEN & WHERE: The scheme ran from February 2021 to December 2025 in Mattapan, Boston. IMPACT: Bonheur faces up to 20 years imprisonment, potential deportation , and financial penalties. A second defendant’s case is ongoing. IN FULL A Haitian man arrested last December in Boston and charged with orchestrating a $6.7 million fraud scheme involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP ) benefits, also known as food stamps, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and unauthorized use of benefits. Antonio Bonheur, a…Open
