Statewide Sweep Busts Food Stamp Fraud

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement released results of a statewide investigation over illegal cash transactions involving electronic food stamp benefits. Twenty-one people statewide were arrested after investigators targeted fifteen businesses. Two people in Pensacola were arrested in the only targeted business in the area.

Greene's Produce on Lillian Highway was accused of providing cash to people with EBT cards. Those cards are meant to be used to by food. Those cash transfers lined the pockets of Charles Greene and his son Gregory Greene who operated the produce stand, according to investigators. During their probe, investigators said the produce stand conducted cash for benefit transactions worth more than 25 thousand dollars.

FDLE investigator Kelly Davis said she visited the produce stand and told Charles Greene she needed rent money. "He said, 'How much do you need, honey.'"

Davis said the transaction charged $200 to her EBT card, with Greene giving her $100 cash, and keeping a hundred for himself. She said investigators visited the stand five times.

The Greene's were arrested on Wednesday. They are charged with multiple counts of fraud and grand theft--felonies. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a five thousand dollar fine. FDLE investigators said, under questioning, the Greene's said they felt they were helping people. The investigators also said that people in the neighborhood referred to the produce stand as 'the bank.'

The FDLE said statewide there were almost 3.5 million dollars worth of illegal transactions. They say phase two of the investigation is next. Investigators will question benefit recipients who traded their benefits for cash. Those people could be charged criminally or administratively. They could face the same penalty as the Greene's if charged criminally, or be suspended or banned from the food stamp program.